Multi-Cancer Early Detection Solution to Address Unmet Medical Needs in Clinical Diagnosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Jan 2024

Image: CanScan multi-cancer early detection solution is built on highly sensitive MERCURY multi-omics technology (Photo courtesy of Geneseeq)

Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment can significantly improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. Tumors continuously release fragmented genomic DNA into the bloodstream, although existing testing methods may find the signal too weak to be picked up in the early stages. Now, a revolutionary multi-cancer early detection solution leverages highly sensitive multi-omics technology to detect early cancer signals as well as predict the tissue of origin (TOO).

Geneseeq Technology Inc.’s (Toronto, Canada) CanScan multi-cancer early detection solution is designed to enhance the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of various cancers. This innovative solution harnesses the power of low-depth whole-genome sequencing (WGS) applied to circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from a single tube of peripheral blood. It efficiently extracts genetic and fragmentomic features to identify early cancer signals with a high specificity of 99% and accurately predicts the TOO of cancers, thereby informing subsequent diagnostic and treatment strategies. Particularly beneficial for individuals aged 50 and older who are at an average risk of cancer, CanScan represents a significant advancement in addressing the clinical needs for early cancer detection and diagnosis. It has demonstrated superior performance compared to existing standard-of-care (SOC) screening methods, especially in detecting prevalent cancers such as prostate, lung, and liver, as well as types like esophageal, endometrial, gastric, pancreatic cancers, and lymphoma, which currently lack effective SOC screening techniques.

CanScan is built upon Geneseeq's sophisticated MERCURY multi-omics technology and its efficacy has been substantiated through the extensive DECIPHER (Detecting Early Cancer by Inspecting ctDNA Features) clinical study series, which included more than 13 types of cancer. The CanScan multi-cancer early detection solution has achieved the Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is presently undergoing a comprehensive real-world assessment in a large-scale prospective multi-center trial. Additionally, as of January 2023, the CanScan assay kit has received CE approval, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards transforming cancer detection and care.

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Geneseeq Technology Inc.