Application of Sentinal Principle in Bladder Cancer Published in Clinical Cancer Research

TORONTO, CANADA (June 19, 2006): ChondroGene™ Limited (TSX Venture: CDG) announced today that a paper entitled "Novel Blood Biomarkers of Human Urinary Bladder Cancer" was published in the June issue of Clinical Cancer Research. The paper describes the use of ChondroGene’s Sentinel Principle™ in a study to identify blood-based biomarkers for use in differentiating between bladder cancer and other genitourinary (GU) cancers, and between bladder cancer and healthy controls. The study was conducted by ChondroGene scientists in collaboration with researchers from New York University School of Medicine, Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. The full paper is available at http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/.

In the study, gene expression patterns in blood samples from 35 patients diagnosed with one of three types of GU cancer (16 with bladder cancer, 10 with testicular cancer and 9 with renal cell carcinoma) and 10 healthy controls were profiled using microarray analysis. Selected subsets of the genes that were shown to be differentially expressed by microarray analysis were then used in samples from 40 bladder cancer patients and 27 healthy controls to assess the ability of the selected genes to differentiate the two groups.

The results showed that the blood gene expression profiles could differentiate between bladder cancer and other types of GU cancers. In addition, a set of seven genes used in a quantitative real time RT-PCR assay was able to differentiate between bladder cancer patients and healthy controls with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 93%.

"We are pleased to have worked with an outstanding group of collaborators to successfully apply the Sentinel Principle to the detection of bladder cancer," stated K. Wayne Marshall, MD, PhD, President and CEO of ChondroGene. "Blood-based biomarkers hold great promise for enabling simple detection and differentiation of cancer more effectively than has historically been possible. In other studies, we have also used the Sentinel Principle to identify blood-based biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis, which is the key to effective cancer treatment."

About Clinical Cancer Research

Clinical Cancer Research publishes original articles describing clinical research on the cellular and molecular characterization, prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of human cancer. Its focus is on innovative clinical research and translational research which bridges the laboratory and the clinic. Clinical Cancer Research is especially interested in clinical trials evaluating new treatments for cancer; research on molecular abnormalities that predict incidence, response to therapy, and outcome, and laboratory studies of new drugs and biological agents that will lead to clinical trials in patients. All submissions undergo peer review.

About GeneNews

GeneNews is focused on the application of functional genomics to enable early diagnosis and personalized therapeutic intervention based on disease-specific biomarkers. The Company has developed a novel approach, the Sentinel Principle™, to detect and stage virtually any disease or medical condition from a simple blood sample. GeneNews is currently applying the Sentinel Principle™ in major areas with unmet clinical needs such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. GeneNews' first product, ColonSentry™, is a convenient and patient-friendly blood-based test that can assess an individual's current risk for colorectal cancer. For more information on GeneNews, visit www.genenews.com.

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