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Highlights
- EpiSwitch® 3D genomics platform demonstrates 81% accuracy for early-stage CRC detection.
- Non-cancerous polyps identified with 82% accuracy using blood-based test.
- Collaboration with leading institutions shows promising diagnostic potential.
Oxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM:OBD), a cutting-edge biotechnology company specializing in precision medicine tests, has revealed compelling results from a multi-centre study involving its proprietary EpiSwitch® 3D genomics platform. The peer-reviewed work, published in the prestigious journal Cancers, focuses on using blood samples to detect colorectal cancer (CRC), including early-stage cancer and non-cancerous polyps, with remarkable accuracy.
The collaborative study brought together experts from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, University Hospitals NHS Trust, and several hospitals in Malaysia, including Hospital Sultana Bahiyah, Island Hospital Penang, and others. The research, led by Prof. Dmitry Pchejetski, Ph.D., highlighted the efficacy of EpiSwitch technology in detecting CRC and precancerous polyps—an achievement that could transform cancer diagnostics.
The study utilized blood samples from 325 patients, applying whole genome DNA screening to identify EpiSwitch biomarkers. These biomarkers are based on 3D genome organization and represent a novel approach to detecting early cancer stages and polyps. The results of the screening identified and validated two key eight-marker signatures, called EpiSwitch® NST, that are capable of diagnosing CRC and detecting precancerous polyps.
Independent validation of these markers showed exceptional accuracy rates: 81% for detecting early-stage colorectal cancer and 82% for identifying non-cancerous polyps. These results stand out when compared to traditional biomarker testing methods, which have often yielded lower sensitivity and predictive values for polyp detection and early cancer stages. The breakthrough achieved by OBD’s platform offers much-needed hope for earlier and more reliable detection of colorectal cancer, a condition that remains a leading cause of cancer-related death globally.
A crucial part of this research involved linking the diagnostic biomarkers to nearby genes, and the EpiSwitch KnowledgeBase platform was employed to map the biological pathways that contribute to CRC and polyp progression. These insights deepen the understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in colorectal cancer, laying the foundation for further advancements in personalized medicine.
Prof. Dmitry Pchejetski, who served as the principle clinical lead on this project, expressed his excitement about the study’s findings, commenting, “I am excited by these findings. This test has the potential ability to detect early cancers and precancerous polyps with greater accuracy.”
Dr. Alexandre Akoulitchev, Chief Scientific Officer at Oxford BioDynamics, also commented on the significance of the results, saying, “Reliable and non-invasive detection of early stages of colorectal cancer, as well as polyps, has been the focus of strenuous efforts by a number of big biomarker companies. To date, the results in terms of sensitivity of detection for polyps and positive predictive value for cancer have been disappointing. Our own approach and these reported results demonstrate the consistent accuracy of EpiSwitch technology for the most challenging patient stratifications and will allow us to progress our ongoing commercial discussions with third parties.”
