NCTR Publications > NCTR Research Highlights

Current Highlight from April 8, 2011

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Novel Algorithm to Identify Biomarkers of Susceptibility

NCTR scientists have developed a statistical model to identify and separate pharmacogenomic biomarkers of susceptibility from biomarkers of exposure for drug-induced toxicity. The model delivers a significant improvement over current methods of biomarker identification.

A well defined set of susceptibility biomarkers could be instrumental in guiding treatment decisions by matching specific drugs with individual patients, thus avoiding adverse drug events.

A simulation study conducted on a microarray gene expression dataset from a preclinical liver toxicity biomarker study at NCTR showed this approach may require larger sample sizes for adequate power and low false positive rates. The results of this study will be published in an upcoming issue of Pharmacogenomics (Vol. 12: Issue 4, 2011).

National Toxicology Program (NTP) Technical Report Review—April 5, 2011

NCTR scientists presented results of cancer bioassay studies on compounds of FDA regulatory interest at the NTP Technical Report Review Committee meeting on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. General conclusions of the committee included:

.Aloe vera (non-decolorized whole leaf extracts of Aloe barbadensis Miller) was carcinogenic in male and female F344N rats, inducing intestinal tumors
.Acrylamide in the drinking water was carcinogenic in multiple organ sites in male and female F344N rats and B6C3F1 mice
.AZT (anti-viral therapeutic), alone or in combination with other anti-virals, showed no or equivocal evidence for carcinogenicity in male and female B6C3F1 mice

The full technical reports and details of the committee’s conclusions are posted at the NTP website.


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NCTR Publications > NCTR Research Highlights