Rethinking the approach to cancer
Nu.Q™ represents a powerful step-change in rethinking the approach to cancer. It is a simple solution to the challenging problem of early cancer diagnosis.
Giving medical professionals increased diagnostic power
Early diagnosis informs and reassures patients.
Nu.Q can reduce the strain on over-burdened healthcare systems.
How it works
How is Nu.Q different to circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)?
When a cancer cell dies, the nuclear components are metabolized into 20 million individual DNA-Nu complexes and released into circulation. A cancer mutation will occur in one of the DNA-Nu complexes.
Nu.Q targets ALL of the 20 million circulating DNA-Nu complexes because nucleosome modifications occur globally.
ctDNA sequencing methods (in development) must target that one-in-a-million DNA-Nu complex.
Volition has developed a suite of novel, routine blood tests for epigenetically altered circulating nucleosomes as biomarkers in cancer. We can incorporate other off-patent, low-cost ELISA tests into our panels (e.g.; CEA) for improved accuracy.
Product Strategy
We plan to develop multiple Nu.Q products across the whole range of cancers falling into the following categories:
-
Frontline Screening Tests
For asymptomatic subjects for the most prevalent cancers.
-
Triage Tests
To work in conjunction with existing tests to improve sensitivity and/or specificity.
-
Frontline Diagnostic Tests
To aid the diagnosis of disease in symptomatic patients.
-
Patient Monitoring Tests
To aid treatment selection and help identify the recurrence of a disease.
Current data on the Nu.Q™ platform
We currently have many large ongoing clinical trials, please click on the bubbles to see the current data we have on the Nu.Q platform.
-
Colorectal Cancer
In a colorectal cancer cohort (123 subjects) a single Nu.Q assay detected colorectal cancer with an AUC of 72%
In the same cohort a two-assay panel detected all stages of colorectal cancer including stage I and had an AUC of 84% (cancer vs healthy)
-
Lung Cancer
In a small lung cancer cohort (76 subjects) a single Nu.Q assay detected lung cancer including stage I lung cancer. The AUC for this single Nu.Q assay was 85%
In a second lung cancer cohort (152 subjects) the AUC for this single Nu.Q assays was 79% and again this performance was further improved when used in a two-assay panel
-
Prostate Cancer
In a pilot study of 84 men, a panel of 5 assays (including PSA) identified 94% of high-grade prostate cancers that require treatment (as defined by the Gleason Score) at 88% specificity.
This compares with just 33% identified by PSA alone.
-
nuQVet
Nucleosomes can be detected in dogs and horses. Further proof of concept work underway
-
nuQCapture
With Nu.Q Capture we can enrich specifically for cancer derived nucleosomes that are also containing specifically mutated DNA.
Research use only kits
Based on our proprietary Nucleosomicsthe Research Use Only Kits are expected to:
- Allow researchers to explore patterns of epigenetic modifications in circulating nucleosomes across a broad range of clinical applications including cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases; and
- Represent the first revenue from the Nu.Q platform and potentially provide an additional licensing revenue stream beyond the commercialization of our blood-based cancer tests utilizing the same platform of assays.
The kits are available to purchase - please contact Volition Sales
Company Update Brochure, 2020
Open