ESMO 2019: Early colon cancer detection blood test has positive result

Immuno-Transcriptomics firm Novigenix has received positive results from its early colon cancer detection blood test at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019.

Held in Barcelona, Spain, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information.

The company undertook the study of Immuno-Transcriptomic signature for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) in blood.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) Immuno-Transcriptome profiles were generated from RNA sequencing of 282 subjects in the study.

Of the total patients, 78 had CRC, 65 advanced adenomas, 39 other cancers and 100 had no colorectal lesions.

Novigenix said a final signature of 524 genes demonstrated high clinical performance, with an AUC of 90%, 88% specificity and 83% sensitivity for CRC detection.

The company launched a prospective colon cancer clinical validation trial in the first half of the year.

Samples from the study, which is anticipated to enrol more than 1,600 subjects from six cancer centres in Europe, will be utilised for the final validation of the newly developed non-invasive colon cancer test based on Novigenix’s blood Immuno-Transcriptomic sequence platform, LITOseek.

LITOseek evaluates the gene expression modifications (mRNA signatures) caused by the host response to numerous triggers, such as the onset of cancer.

Novigenix CEO Jan Groen said: “The performance data of the newly discovered immune-transcriptomic signature for the detection of early CRC in blood are very encouraging.

“Our partner Biolizard is developing an AI-based bioinformatics algorithm for this test on our LITOseek platform, which we believe could improve on the already promising performance data of the test seen in studies to date.”

Novigenix has established a valuable multi-ethnical biobank and database of more than 1,400 patients at risk of CRC. The company has launched its first blood-based molecular diagnostic product, Colox, for the early detection of colon cancer.

Earlier this month, Novigenix signed a collaboration agreement with BioLizard for the development of NGS based diagnostic algorithm.

Under the deal, BioLizard will develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based bioinformatics algorithm to support the transition of Colox onto Novigenix’s LITOseek platform, as well as other products under development.