Joint Research Study Reports Discovery of New Set of Potential Prognos

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers
    BIOWIRE2K
    Human Genome Organization (HUGO) 10th Annual Human Genome Meeting

    KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2005--

    Applied Biosystems Gene Expression Products and PANTHER(TM) Protein Classification System Reveal Distinct Molecular Mechanisms Predicting Tumor Malignancy at Early Stage in Different Subtypes of Breast Cancer

    Scientists from a joint research study conducted by Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, and the Norwegian Radium Hospital will today report the discovery of a new set of potential prognostic biomarkers for early stage breast cancer at the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) 10th Annual Human Genome Meeting in Kyoto, Japan.
    Using Applied Biosystems Expression Array System and Human Genome Survey Microarray, researchers identified a set of 54 genes with the greatest prognostic value for breast cancer and discovered that tumor aggressiveness may be determined at early stage in different subtypes of breast cancer. Findings suggest that these subtypes of breast cancer represent biologically distinct diseases and substantiate the value of gene expression-based subtypes in the prognosis and diagnosis of breast cancer at an early stage.
    "Breast cancer is a complex disease and its biology remains a challenge to understand," said Anne-Lise Borresen-Dale, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Genetics, Norwegian Radium Hospital. "While traditional prognosis factors, such as metastasis, lymph nodes and tumor size, provide limited information about the underlying biology of the disease, Applied Biosystems Expression Array System has allowed us to further and systematically characterize the two breast cancer subtypes at the molecular level as well as to identify novel biomarkers."
    Researchers identified 1,210 marker genes from samples of early stage breast tumors and characterized them into two previously defined subtypes of breast tumors, Luminal A, signifying an optimistic prognosis, and Basal, signifying a worse prognosis. Of the 1,210 genes, 54 were identified that best discriminate between the two breast cancer subtypes and were validated using TaqMan(R) Gene Expression assays as potential prognostic biomarkers.
    Further analysis of the 1,210 genes using the PANTHER(TM) Protein Classification System for functional classification and pathway analysis revealed different molecular mechanisms predicting tumor aggressiveness that may be preprogrammed at early stage breast cancer.
    "Using the highly sensitive Expression Array System together with tools such as the PANTHER(TM) Protein Classification System and TaqMan(R) Gene Expression Assays provides researchers with a comprehensive approach to begin to decipher the molecular basis of disease," said Catherine M. Burzik, President of Applied Biosystems. "The results from this study provide further evidence that gene expression-based biomarkers may be useful in both the diagnosis and prognosis of early stage breast cancer, as well as in the identification of drug targets for more targeted breast cancer therapeutics."
    Results of the study will be presented today during HUGO Meeting Session #13 (Genomic Basis of Common Diseases), at an oral and poster presentation entitled "Sub-classification and Molecular Characterization of Early Stage Breast Carcinoma Using Applied Biosystem Human Genome Survey Microarrays." Oral presentation (# 91) will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and poster presentation (#319) will be held from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

    About Breast Cancer

    According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide, with more than one million women diagnosed with the disease each year.

    About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

    Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.7 billion during fiscal 2004. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800-762-6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/.

    About Norwegian Radium Hospital, Department of Genetics

    Norwegian Radium Hospital's Department of Genetics focuses on the molecular biology of breast and ovarian cancer with emphasis on identification of genotypes and gene expression profiles contributing to elevated cancer risk, radiation sensitivity, tumor aggressiveness, and therapy resistance. The Department hypothesis is that both the geno- and phenotype of the tumor as well as the patients own genotype (the genetic "makeup" of the patient) play a role in breast and ovarian cancer risk, in the type of cancer developed, the disease course and the response to treatment. Results from this research may be used to identify high-risk individuals that may benefit from preventing strategies, and to individualize the treatment of patients with respect to choice of drugs as well as to dose and duration.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "may" "potentially" and among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Applera Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on development and customer acceptance of new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; and (3) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Applera does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

    For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

    TaqMan is a registered trademark of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. The PCR process is covered by patents owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

    Copyright(C) 2005. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems and Celera are registered trademarks and Applera, Celera Genomics, and PANTHER are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.

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CONTACT: Applied Biosystems Group Sophie Patel, 650-554-2732 (Media) sophia.patel@appliedbiosystems.com Peter Dworkin, 650-554-2479 (Investors) dworkipg@appliedbiosystems.com David Speechly, Ph.D., (+) 44.162.273.9150 (European Media and Investors) speechdp@eur.appliedbiosystems.com

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