Dual Assay Test Detects Colorectal Cancer

Current diagnostic screening practices for colorectal cancer vary globally, from inviting at-risk groups to submit fecal occult blood tests to offering regular investigative colonoscopies. Studies have shown compliance rates of between 30% to 60% for fecal blood tests, likely due to the uncomfortable nature of the test and that less than 40% of people who were offered a colonoscopy screening actually attended.

An ongoing prospective study at hospitals associated with the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) has indicated that when combining two proprietary NuQ assays (VolitionRx; Namur, Belgium) into one test, doctors can achieve 85% detection rates at 85% specificity for colorectal cancer. The data also shows that Volition’s two-assay test can detect more than 50% of precancerous polyps. Each NuQ enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) captures intact nucleosomes and labels a specific feature. Volition’s NuQ range of products is based on the Nucleosomics platform, which identifies and measures nucleosome structures in cell culture, serum, plasma or other biofluids.

Scientists at the University Hospital Bonn (Germany) have reported preliminary data from a 90 patient independent trial, later confirmed in a further 113 patients. This data demonstrated 75% detection rates at 70% specificity when using a single NuQ assay. The Belgian team confirmed these results using the same single assay, but when combining it with another nucleosome biomarker they achieved even better results. They have now analyzed 39 patients’ samples from the ongoing prospective trial, which includes both healthy patients and patients with benign colon disorders.

Hans Jørgen Nielsen, MD, DMSc, professor of surgical oncology at Hvidovre Hospital (Copenhagen, Denmark) said, “The 85% detection rate seen in this latest study is on par with rates achieved by fecal occult blood tests. If we could improve screening compliance by offering the public a simple, less intrusive test that is just as accurate, we could detect even more colorectal cancer cases in the earlier stages and survival rates could drastically improve.”

Related Links:
Catholic University of Louvain
VolitionRx
University Hospital Bonn