The two-year project in Japan will use cfDNA and cfRNA testing to identify genomic alterations in patients with lung cancer.
Pillar Biosciences, LC-SCRUM-Asia, and LSI Medience Corp announced a collaboration to support genomic screening of blood-based samples from patients with lung cancer as part of the LC-SCRUM-Asia project in Japan.
Following approval of a revision to the LC-SCRUM-Asia project protocol, the participating organizations plan to begin testing in August 2026. The project is expected to include approximately 2,000 patients over a two-year period, according to a press release from the companies.
Pillar Biosciences’ oncoReveal Essential+ assay has been validated at LSI Medience for use as a screening test for circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) samples collected from patients with lung cancer. LSI Medience will perform the testing to support the identification of genomic alterations relevant to the research objectives of the project.
“LC-SCRUM-Asia has established an important collaborative framework for advancing precision oncology research in lung cancer,” says Daniel Harma, chief commercial officer, Pillar Biosciences, in a release. “We are pleased that oncoReveal Essential+ has been validated at LSI Medience for screening both cfDNA and cfRNA samples and look forward to supporting this large-scale project in Japan.”
Supporting Blood-Based Genomic Screening
Liquid biopsy testing enables genomic analysis from blood samples when tissue is limited or when a minimally invasive sampling approach is desirable. By combining analysis of cfDNA and cfRNA, the LC-SCRUM-Asia project is designed to support screening for genomic alterations in patients with lung cancer.
The use of oncoReveal Essential+ within the project is intended to support targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis from blood-based specimens within a decentralized laboratory workflow, according to the companies.
“Rapid and reliable genomic testing is essential for identifying patients who may benefit from biomarker-driven clinical studies and emerging precision therapies,” says Dr Koichi Goto of LC-SCRUM-Asia, in a release. “The use of oncoReveal Essential+ through LSI Medience will provide the LC-SCRUM-Asia network with a highly accurate and accessible liquid biopsy solution for analyzing cfDNA and cfRNA from patients with non-small cell lung cancer, while supporting the rapid turnaround needed for clinical research.”
LC-SCRUM-Asia is a lung cancer genomic screening and clinical research network led by the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Japan. The project brings together medical institutions, diagnostic laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies to identify genomic alterations in patients and facilitate the development of biomarker-driven therapies. LSI Medience, a subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corp, will leverage its analytical capabilities in clinical testing to support the initiative.
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