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:
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Frontline General Population Screening Tests
For asymptomatic subjects for the most prevalent cancers.
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High Risk Screening ‘Triage’ Tests
To work in conjunction with existing tests to improve sensitivity and/or specificity.
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Frontline Diagnostic Tests
To aid the diagnosis of diseases in symptomatic patients.
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Disease Monitoring Tests
To help monitor high risk groups and/or identify the recurrence of a disease.
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Treatment Selection Tests
A personalized medicine approach to help identify the most appropirate treatment for the individual.
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.
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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)
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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
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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.
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nuQVet
Nucleosomes can be detected in dogs and horses. Further proof of concept work underway
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nuQCapture
With Nu.Q Capture we have been able to deplete nucelsomes by 70-90% using magnetic beads in serum and plasma
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 through our distributor Active Motif.
Cameron speaking about the Assay Development Program
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