In July 2024 the Melanoma Institute Australia’s Translational Research Group (MTRG) undertook a project with MetaGene Pty Ltd, Australia, and Biocare Medical LLC, USA, to develop fully automated tissue multiplex immunofluorescent panels on the ONCORE Pro X instrument. The team tested multiplex immunofluorescent panels that can detect seven immuno-oncology markers in one patient sample with the goal of gaining an increased understanding of the body’s immune response.
With the assistance of Associate Professor James Wilmot’s team, the group were able to rapidly and successfully automate the Akoya OPAL 7-Plex assay on the Biocare Medical ONCORE Pro X System in Professors Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long’s laboratory at the Melanoma Institute Australia located at the University of Sydney.
(L-R) Rick Holder MetaGene, Professor Richard Scolyer and Professor Georgina Long, Melanoma Institute Australia.
MetaGene founder Rick Holder commented that “the ONCORE Pro X can now increase patient sample throughput offering Oncologists additional information about a patient’s disease state”.
Following a team review of the initial results, the multiplexed approach proved successful in simultaneously evaluating several disease markers that could indicate cancer virulence or metastasis.
Melanoma positive lymph node illuminated with DAPI, CD3, FOXp3, CD103, TCF7, CD39, SOX10 markers
Pleased with the results, Debora Rothmond from MTRG stated “a multiplexed patient sample will give insight into the immune profile with B and T-Cell populations within the tumour microenvironment of melanoma patients. Biocare Medical’s ONCORE Pro X instrument was by far the most versatile, cost effective and user-friendly system we’d seen. Biocare, and Australian representative MetaGene, provided excellent support during the instrument installation to ensure our varied and complex protocols were up in running very quickly”.
Associate Professor Wilmot was encouraged by the rapid results from the enhanced ONCORE Pro X System, which not only allows the Melanoma Institute Australia to generate life-saving research faster but also facilitates MTRG’s ability to rapidly adapt the protocols for different immunology panels within a fully automated system, something MTRG were not able to previously do.
The ONCORE Pro X generates qualitatively and more accurate data for sample analysis and allows MTRG to significantly improve turnaround time for patients, all with the added benefit of reduced cost per sample.
For more information on the Biocare Medical ONCORE Pro X, contact MetaGene on 1800 788 498.
Acknowledgments:
Professor Richard Scolyer – Melanoma Institute Australia
Professor Georgina Long – Melanoma Institute Australia
Associate Professor James Wilmont – Melanoma Institute Australia
Debora Rothmond – Melanoma Institute Australia
Cody Albrech – Biocare Medical USA
Dhuri Telfer – Biocare Medical Australia
Melissa Whitehouse – MetaGene Pty Ltd
Richard Holder – MetaGene Pty Ltd