Double-Digit Growth Seen for In-Vitro Cancer Diagnostics

A market research group, in a report on the in vitro cancer diagnostics market, today reported that 50 immunoassays for new tumor markers, some 20 biochip systems, and another 25 tests for genes and proteins in peripheral blood are close to being ready for market introduction, and at least 25 new immunohistochemical and in-situ hybridization assays will be introduced in the near future.

Kalorama Information of New York today in a market report entitled: “World Market for Cancer Diagnostics to Reach $7.4 Billion by 2009” says that the market for in-vitro diagnostic tests for cancer will grow at a low double-digit rate to reach that plateau.

New technologies such as microarrays, mass spectroscopy protein patterns, and the amplification of tumor cell DNA and RNA coupled with bioinformatics and the unraveling of relationships between genes and proteins and cancers, as well as demographic pressures of an aging population provide optimism for the market outlook.

On the other hand, the report sees hurdles to growth in the costs of new tests, and the success of cancer management using traditional test methods such as tissue biopsies and serum assays.

”Cancer drug research is gradually shifting from traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies toward higher specificity immunological and biological approaches that target unique biochemical receptors and signaling pathways. These new drugs will be more cancer- and patient-specific and will have the potential for slowing cancer growth and inhibiting disease progression, with fewer adverse effects on the patient.”

As these drugs come to market, in vitro diagnostics will become critical to matching drug to cancer and to patient and then the monitoring of the drug's action on the disease.

Meantime, at the annual cancer prevention research meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research this week in Baltimore, researchers presented evidence that diet is a key to cancer and that eating more fruit and vegetables – and not smoking – are good ideas in the cancer battle.

Click here to read a roundup of food findings from the AACR meeting [garlic, broccoli sprouts and all sorts of brassicas, and onions are all good. In fact, the 'prudent' diet includes more cruciferous vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, whole grain, cereals, fish, poultry and beans.]