Cancer cells
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Breakthrough Cancer Detection Method.

Overview

Early Cancer Detection

In early-stage cancer, it is difficult to detect cancer-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood because it may comprise only 0.01% of the DNA present among a background of 99.99% normal DNA. Moreover, most of the cancer DNA has exactly the same sequence as normal DNA.

Current ctDNA detection methods involve DNA extraction, sequencing of all (cancer and normal) circulating DNA and analysis of the sequencing data using sophisticated computer bioinformatics to tell them apart. Physical separation of tumor-derived and healthy circulating DNA has previously never been reported

 

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Introducing Capture-PCR™
Our Solution
We have developed Capture-PCR – a novel method for liquid biopsy involving the first reported physical isolation of a class of tumor-derived ctDNA fragments from blood.
Cancer-derived ctDNA fragments are then extracted after removal of all normal background DNA of the same sequence for detection with a simple, low cost PCR test.
Capture-PCR obviates expensive, time-consuming DNA sequencing and bioinformatics – allowing for rapid, cost-effective detection in a routine blood test. It may also be suitable for automation, enabling application in hospital laboratories.
African Woman at a Medical Appointment
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Fast.

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Cost-effective.

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Routine blood test.

Workflow

Based on over a decade of work on the chemistry of circulating chromatin fragments, we have developed a transformational wet chemistry pathway that identifies and physically isolates chromatin fragments that we know are tumor-derived from background DNA of the same sequence, using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP).
Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) testing is undertaken to establish whether cancer is present.

Diagram to show transformational wet chemistry pathway that identifies and physically isolates chromatin fragments
Application

Our latest research

We tested Capture-PCR in a first small clinical experiment and detected a range of liquid and other cancers, including at early-stage I disease.

  • 74% of leukemias were detected at 96% specificity with a single q-PCR assay
  • 77% of colorectal cancers were detected at 92% specificity with 2-qPCR assays.

These early assays were developed using a leukemia model, but surprisingly also detected many other cancers including detecting colorectal cancer in a blood test with an accuracy approaching that of current Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT).

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of leukemias were detected at 96% specificity with a single q-PCR assay

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of colorectal cancers were detected at 92% specificity with 2-qPCR assays.

The opportunity.

 

Capture-PCR results to date are exciting and may pave the way for a whole new class of undiscovered biomarkers.

We are now developing a range of cancer-specific assays which we expect to be more accurate and look forward to sharing our progress throughout 2024 and beyond.

Our Capture-PCR commercial strategy is to license this proprietary technology to an industry leader/leaders. Contact us for more information.

The novel CTCF-ChIP/qPCR method developed by Volition shows great promise for the accurate, rapid, low-cost detection of cancer. The test complements existing approaches and has the potential to reach the high levels of sensitivity and specificity required to detect early-stage disease. It may also be suitable for automation, enabling application in hospital laboratories.
Dr Michael Hubank
Professor of Translational Genomics at the Institute of Cancer Research, and Scientific Director of Clinical Genomics at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust