Preoperative blood testing using H3K27Me3-nucleosome levels may help clinicians identify which non-small cell lung cancer patients need closer follow-up or additional treatment.
A preoperative nucleosome liquid biopsy test may help stratify risk and guide treatment decisions in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to research presented this week at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The poster presentation highlighted the use of Volition’s Nu.Q Cancer assays, which measure H3K27Me3-nucleosome levels from a simple blood draw, to predict recurrence-free and overall survival outcomes in lung cancer patients before surgery.
“A key finding from this study was that measuring preoperative H3K27Me3-nucleosomes using Volition’s simple blood test allows us to identify which non-small cell lung cancer patients are most likely to benefit from closer follow-ups or secondary cancer treatment,” says Pei-Hsing Chen, MD, assistant professor, surgical department, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan, and joint lead author of the study, in a release.
According to Chen, patients with high H3K27Me3-nucleosome levels showed poorer recurrence-free and overall survival outcomes, while those with low levels demonstrated significantly better outcomes. The assay may also aid in identifying micro-metastatic disease and informing systemic treatment decisions in high-risk patients.
A Practical Tool for Clinicians
The Nu.Q Cancer technology is designed to give clinicians an accessible, cost-effective method for enriching clinical prognostication throughout the patient journey. Unlike more invasive or imaging-based assessments, the test relies on a blood draw, potentially lowering the barrier to implementation in clinical settings.
“Nu.Q Cancer represents a significant advancement in lung cancer patient management, offering clinicians an additional tool to enhance precision in treatment selection and monitoring,” says Andrew Retter, MD, medical consultant at Volition, in a release.
Retter noted that research from collaborators in Taiwan and Lyon has consistently supported the technology’s utility in helping clinicians make more informed treatment decisions and providing new monitoring capabilities over the course of patient care.
“By enriching clinical prognostication, Nu.Q Cancer helps identify the most appropriate treatment pathway for an individual patient, supporting efforts to improve overall survival and deliver patient-centred care,” Retter says in a release.
Moving Toward Clinical Use
Volition describes the ELCC presentation as part of a broader trajectory toward first clinical use of its Nu.Q platform. The company, which conducts its research and development activities in Belgium with additional offices in the US and London, is developing blood-based tests for detecting and monitoring a range of diseases, including cancer and conditions associated with NETosis, such as sepsis.
“We are now on the path to the first use of Nu.Q in clinical practice, an exciting prospect which is core to Volition’s mission, using our tests to help save lives,” Retter says in a release.
ID 92236248 © Anyaivanova | Dreamstime.com
