PIK3CA Multiplex Mutation Screening Kit

PIK3CA kinases are a family of lipid kinases capable of phosphorylating the 3'OH of the inositol ring of phosphoinositides. They are responsible for coordinating a diverse range of cell functions including proliferation and survival.

This gene has been found to be oncogenic and is the most recurrently mutated gene in breast cancer, and has been found to be important in a number of cancer types including gastric cancer. PIK3CA has two main hotspots for activating mutations, the 542/545 region of the helical domain, and the 1047 region of the kinase domain.

Cancer is a genetic disease with uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Some types of cancer are frequently associated with specific genetic mutations. Those mutations provide the biomarkers that allow more specific cancer treatments, known as targeted therapy.

Targeted therapy is a newer type of cancer treatment that offers patients the opportunity to use a drug that has a greater effect on cancerous tissue, reducing many of the side effects associated with standard therapy. Therefore, it is a critical step towards targeted therapy by identifying the cancer mutations with a precise and sensitive method.