Society
Resolution of Medical Issues through Innovation
Cancer Genomic Medicine Initiatives
The number of cancer patients around the world has risen to approximately 18.1 million, with the annual number of deaths from cancer estimated to be approximately 9.6 million. Furthermore, over the next 20 years, the number of patients is expected to increase by at least 60%.*
Sysmex aims to contribute to improving the quality of life (QOL) for individual patients and curtailing healthcare expenses by providing tests that help in diagnosing cancer cases, determining treatment methods, and measuring results during treatment, as well as in post-treatment monitoring.
Sysmex aims to contribute to improving the quality of life (QOL) for individual patients and curtailing healthcare expenses by providing tests that help in diagnosing cancer cases, determining treatment methods, and measuring results during treatment, as well as in post-treatment monitoring.
- “WHO Report on Cancer” (published February 2020)
Cancer Genome Profiling
In addition to a confirmed diagnosis, in recent years cancer treatment requires numerous tests using genes and proteins for efficacy prediction, recurrence monitoring, and other aspects of treatment.
Sysmex and the National Cancer Center jointly developed the system for use in cancer genome profiling. The system is used in clinical practice to measure 124 cancer-related genes in tumor tissue to analyze solid tumors and acquire a comprehensive cancer genomic profile. With this profile, gene mutations unique to each patient’s cancer are analyzed to provide information that is useful in diagnosis and determining the course of treatment, including the selection of anti-cancer drugs. In February 2021, the system underwent functional enhancement so that more gene mutations could be detected. The enhanced system is expected to contribute more to the proper selection of drugs to be administered, which will lead to better treatment outcomes.
Starting in fiscal 2021, we set the number of tests for cancer gene profiling as an indicator for monitoring the progress towards sustainability targets. We will continue our efforts to expand the use of this profiling.
Starting in fiscal 2021, we set the number of tests for cancer gene profiling as an indicator for monitoring the progress towards sustainability targets. We will continue our efforts to expand the use of this profiling.
Lymph Node Metastasis Testing Using the OSNA Method
Lymph node metastasis testing plays an important role in the selection of surgical and non-surgical treatment procedures. With conventional testing methods, a pathological specimen is prepared using surgically removed lymph node slices, and a pathologist microscopically examines the specimen for cancer cells during or after surgery to make an evaluation. However, this procedure involves issues that arise on site, such as the workload of preparing specimens, dependence on the quality of the specimen makers’ skills, and varying accuracy in evaluations of specimens among pathologists.
Sysmex developed a system to test for breast cancer lymph node metastasis. The system uses the OSNA method*—Sysmex's proprietary technology—to determine in approximately 30 minutes whether cancer has spread to a patient’s lymph nodes. The automated, simplified testing enabled by this system produces objective test results that are not dependent on individual examiner’s skills, thereby helping to reduce pathologists’ workloads and standardize breast cancer screening. Furthermore, rapid testing has enabled intraoperative testing. This reduces the burden of multiple operations on patients as well as the risk of recurrence.
Starting in fiscal 2021, we set the number of tests for breast cancer lymph node metastasis that use the OSNA method as an indicator for monitoring the progress against sustainability targets. We will continue our efforts to expand the use of the OSNA method.
Sysmex developed a system to test for breast cancer lymph node metastasis. The system uses the OSNA method*—Sysmex's proprietary technology—to determine in approximately 30 minutes whether cancer has spread to a patient’s lymph nodes. The automated, simplified testing enabled by this system produces objective test results that are not dependent on individual examiner’s skills, thereby helping to reduce pathologists’ workloads and standardize breast cancer screening. Furthermore, rapid testing has enabled intraoperative testing. This reduces the burden of multiple operations on patients as well as the risk of recurrence.
Starting in fiscal 2021, we set the number of tests for breast cancer lymph node metastasis that use the OSNA method as an indicator for monitoring the progress against sustainability targets. We will continue our efforts to expand the use of the OSNA method.
- One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification method developed by Sysmex. Designed to support the determination whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Hemostasis Testing for Efficient Screening Workflow
Hemostasis tests are used mainly for the diagnosis and treatment of hemorrhagic diseases (e.g., hemophilia) and thrombotic diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction). In recent years, with an increase in thrombotic diseases attributable to patient lifestyle and/or age, and with the development of new blood products designed to improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients with hemorrhagic diseases, the need for hemostasis tests for early diagnosis and proper treatment of these diseases has become more diverse. On the other hand, hemostasis tests generally use multiple devices with different measurement principles, including immunoassay instruments and platelet aggregometers. This has created issues in the clinical setting, such as complicated screening workflows and delays in obtaining test results needed to understand patients’ conditions and treat them.
Sysmex provides the Automated Blood Coagulation Analyzers, which enable the flexible measurement of coagulation molecular markers using the CLEIA method*, as well as blood coagulation and platelet aggregation parameters, in response to a wide range of testing orders in the thrombosis and hemostasis areas. These analyzers provide efficient screening workflows that meet various needs in the clinical setting.
Moreover, the combined use of Caresphere, our network solution, allows customers to easily check and analyze, from remote locations, the number of processed specimens, remaining quantities of consumables such as reagents, operation of equipment including the results of quality control, and the operational status of laboratories overall. This helps raise the efficiency of routine operations in laboratories.
Sysmex provides the Automated Blood Coagulation Analyzers, which enable the flexible measurement of coagulation molecular markers using the CLEIA method*, as well as blood coagulation and platelet aggregation parameters, in response to a wide range of testing orders in the thrombosis and hemostasis areas. These analyzers provide efficient screening workflows that meet various needs in the clinical setting.
Moreover, the combined use of Caresphere, our network solution, allows customers to easily check and analyze, from remote locations, the number of processed specimens, remaining quantities of consumables such as reagents, operation of equipment including the results of quality control, and the operational status of laboratories overall. This helps raise the efficiency of routine operations in laboratories.
- Chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay
Our Response to COVID-19
We are making efforts toward halting the further spread of COVID-19 by providing medical professionals with new diagnostic technologies utilizing our global networks, as well as our proprietary measurement technologies and assay services.
Story: Stakeholder’s Voice
“Can we ask Sysmex to develop COVID-19 test kits?” This was a request we received from the national government via the Japan Association of Clinical Reagents Industries at the end of January 2020. Executive Vice President Mitsuru Taniguchi of the LS (Life Science) Division, who leads multiple projects as a pivotal figure behind Sysmex's fight against COVID-19, reflects on the days when the projects were launched.
