Health Gene Limited

Health Gene will provide research in diagnosis of cancers and the following:

(1) F18-PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) for diagnosis of prostate cancer:
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein expressed in all types of prostatic tissue, but with increased PSMA expression in prostate cancer tissue. Ga-68 or F-18 labeled PSMA has been developed as an imaging agent for prostate cancer patient. F-18 labeled PSMA would provide a better alternative because of its longer half life (2 hrs) and much higher yield , thus can be produced in large amounts per batch, enabling services to multiple clinics, and benefiting many more patients.

(2) Ga-68 DOTA compounds used for diagnosis of neuro-endocrine tumors:
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are tumors arising from the neuroendocrine cells dispersed through the body derived from the neural crest, and with increased expression of somatostatin receptor on cell membrane. The incidence of these tumors is rising. Ga-68 labeled somatostatin analogues such as DOTATATE are developed as PET tracers for NETs and have shown excellent results in management of NET such as diagnosis, staging, selection of therapy candidates and monitoring therapy response.

(3) F-18 FMC (fluoro-methyl-choline) for diagnosis of liver cancer:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly malignant and deadly. The sensitivity of routine 18F-FDG PET for detecting HCC is poor. Choline is an essential component in synthesis of cell membrane, which is essential in metabolism of HCC. There is an increased uptake of choline into HCC. F-18 FMC has been proposed as a better method for the detection of HCC. Dual tracers PET/CT scan using FMC and FDG can improve HCC detection sensitivity to as high as 94%.

(4) FET for diagnosis of brain cancer:
18F-FET PET has shown value in the diagnosis of brain tumor recurrence after initial surgery or radiotherapy and for directing biopsy or radiosurgery.