Genzyme launches diagnostic test for blood cancer

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., July 27 - Genzyme Corp. said its new p53 mutation analysis for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a gene-sequencing assay that detects specific mutations in the p53 gene with a higher degree of sensitivity than current methods.

P53 is a tumor suppressor gene that stops cell division when DNA damage is present, according to a news release.

When the p53 gene does not function normally, genetic mutations that can occur in dividing cells remain unchecked, thereby leading to the accumulation of abnormal, malignant cells. Mutations in p53 are present in greater than 50% of all human cancers, including colon, breast, lung, bladder, brain, liver and hematological malignancies, the release said.

Genzyme is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Mass.

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