EPI has developed proprietary methods that make possible accurate and detailed mass spectrometry analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. Protein analysis in FFPE tissue currently relies on decades-old immunohistochemistry, which requires laborious, subjective visual interpretation of staining patterns and antibodies to the specific proteins being investigated. The company has assembled a platform of technologies that work together to enable protein biomarker discovery and accurate measurement of individual proteins and protein pathways in the form of patient tissue that is routinely collected, preserved and stored in medical research and treatment facilities.

• Liquid Tissue® MS reagents extract proteins from FFPE samples for mass spec analysis. Complete solubilization captures the entire protein content. Mass spec friendly. Requires only 30,000 cells for multiple mass spectrometry analyses. Patent applied for.

• DIRECTOR™ laser microdissection by indirect photon biomaterial interactions, covered by one issued and one pending patent, is a method that dramatically improves the speed, precision and automatability of tissue microdissection, an absolute requirement for high-quality data in both proteomic and genomic work.

• Several patent applications and licenses related to protein quantitation using labeled peptides, to enrichment of secreting and membrane proteins and to biomarkers of metastasis and urogenital cancers.

EPI, its collaborators and customers have already demonstrated success identifying unique differentially expressing proteins associated with specific clinical outcomes and pathologies, such as progression of oral cavity lesions, survival of pancreatic cancer surgery patients and metastasis of lung cancer.

Current collaborations are showing feasibility of measuring proteins such as HER2 in breast cancer by labeled peptides, lung cancer biomarkers by Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) and papillomavirus in HIV patients by iTRAQ.