Analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain/light chain (HLC) pairs - Hevylite™
Hevylite* (HLC), a new assay now available from Binding Site, promises to transform the way patients with B cell dyscrasia are managed, just as the Freelite assay has done.
In summary Hevylite assays offer:
- higher sensitivity than serum protein electrophoresis for quantifying monoclonal immunoglobulins
- a numerical result for patients at a sensitivity as high as or better than immunofixation electrophoresis
- clinical value when monitoring** patients with monoclonal gammopathies
- HLC ratios which have a greater range of changes than monoclonal immunoglobulin measurements because the non-tumour immunoglobulin allows assessment of immunosuppression
- HLC ratios which are not affected by changes in blood volume, haematocrit and variable metabolism (via FcRn receptors for IgG) that affect current assays for serum immunoglobulins
- HLC ratios that provide information about the tumour selective killing rate versus non-tumour plasma cell kill rates. The assessment of selective tumour killing rates may help with decision making regarding effective chemotherapies
First publication supporting clinical utility of Hevylite
Binding Site announces the first publication supporting clinical utility of Hevylite.
Published in Clinical Chemistry 55:9 1-10, 'Assessment of Monoclonal Gammopathies by Nephelometric Measurement of Individual Immunoglobulin κ/λ Ratios', is authored by A.R Bradwell. The publication details how Hevylite (HLC) assays have been developed and shows early supporting patient data.
The publication concludes '...immunoassays have been developed that can determine individual immunoglobulin κ/λ ratios. These may be clinically useful when Monoclonal Immunoglobulins are of low concentration and/or are hidden by other protein bands. Furthermore, such measurements include information on the immunosuppression of individual immunoglobulins, which could prove of interest when assessing disease progression and responses to therapy.'
In the same journal David Keren comments in the editorial section 'The HLC assay is an important addition to our armamentarium for detecting and measuring M proteins. It brings a reproducible, quantifiable number to the evaluation of M proteins, together with the ability to view the M protein HLC type.'
* Six Hevylite kits are available now. More kits in the range will become available late 2010.
** Please enquire regarding FDA status
