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SANTA CLARA, Calif.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it will collaborate with the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research in Brisbane, Australia, to increase understanding of the genomic differences between young and older patients with oral cancer and between progressive and non-progressive oral potentially malignant lesions.

Oral cancer is part of a group of cancers commonly referred to as head and neck cancers. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Over 275,000 new cases are diagnosed per year, resulting in nearly 125,000 deaths annually¹. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was once considered a disease affecting older, high-risk men², but the past decade has shown an increase in the number of cases in younger, low-risk patients.

Oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs), which are visible, morphologically altered precursors of many OSCCs, are important cancer prevention targets. The underlying reason for progression of OPML to OSCC is not fully understood. By implementing next-generation sequencing and data analysis, scientists can unravel the molecular genetic basis of these diseases, potentially leading to the development of targeted preventive therapies.

“Our collaboration and support from Agilent will accelerate our work in this important area of clinical research,” said associate professor Camile Farah, head of the Oral Oncology Research Program at UQCCR.

DNA obtained from OPML and OSCC from both young and older patients and sequential biopsies from patients with OPML will be followed for at least seven years from initial clinical diagnosis. Protein-coding regions for the DNA will be selectively enriched using Agilent’s SureSelect target enrichment system (SureSelect Human All Exon V5) followed by DNA sequencing on the SOLiD5500 (Life Technologies). The data will be analyzed at the Queensland Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics, which will compare³ DNA alterations at different stages of carcinogenesis.

“SureSelect has been successfully used by researchers to discover the genetic basis of a wide range of diseases,” said Agilent’s Dr. Russell McInnes, general manager for Genomics Solutions, South Asia Pacific and Korea. “Now, working with Professor Farah, we will enable greater understanding of the genetic changes that characterize oral cancers. Agilent is delighted to be a partner in this clinical research project.”

About The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research

The UQ Centre for Clinical Research focuses on the early detection of disease, intervention, prevention and treatment. World-renowned Bio-Medical Researchers and Clinicians utilize new clinical approaches and research technologies to improve health and wellbeing. For more information visit www.uqccr.uq.edu.au.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company’s 20,600 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.8 billion in fiscal 2013. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.

On Sept. 19, 2013, Agilent announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff of its electronic measurement company. The separation is expected to be completed in early November 2014.

¹ S. Warnakulasuriya, “Global epidemiology of oral and oropharyngeal cancer,” Oral Oncology, vol. 45, no. 4–5, pp. 309–316, 2009.

² Above 60 years of age, with a history of smoking and alcohol consumption.

³ Patients’ age, sex, tobacco consumption history and HPV status are factors taken into considerations in the data comparisons.

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