New Collaboration Advances Precision Oncology Screening for Lung Cancer in Japan

Molecular profiling is central to precision oncology in lung cancer, but tissue samples can be limited and minimally invasive approaches are often preferable. Liquid biopsy enables blood-based genomic analysis when tissue is scarce, reducing reliance on invasive procedures. A new collaboration will now deploy a validated next-generation sequencing assay to analyze circulating cell-free DNA and RNA in patients with lung cancer across a large Japanese research network.

Pillar Biosciences, LC-SCRUM-Asia, and LSI Medience have announced a collaboration to support genomic screening of blood-based samples from patients with lung cancer in Japan. As part of the collaboration, Pillar’s oncoReveal Essential+ assay has been validated at LSI Medience for screening circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) from participants in the LC-SCRUM-Asia project. Following approval of a revised project protocol, testing is expected to begin in August 2026 and include approximately 2,000 patients over two years.

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The oncoReveal Essential+ assay will be used to support targeted next‑generation sequencing from blood-based specimens within a decentralized laboratory workflow. Testing will be performed by LSI Medience to support identification of genomic alterations relevant to the project’s research objectives. By combining analysis of cfDNA and cfRNA, the project is designed to enable broad screening for genomic alterations in patients with lung cancer.

LC‑SCRUM‑Asia is a large‑scale lung cancer genomic screening and clinical research network in Japan led by the National Cancer Center Hospital East. The project brings together medical institutions, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and other research partners to identify genomic alterations in patients with lung cancer and facilitate the development and delivery of biomarker‑driven therapies. Through comprehensive molecular screening and collaboration across participating institutions, LC‑SCRUM‑Asia seeks to advance precision medicine and expand clinical research opportunities for patients with lung cancer.

“LC-SCRUM-Asia has established an important collaborative framework for advancing precision oncology research in lung cancer. 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,” said Daniel Harma, Chief Commercial Officer, Pillar Biosciences.

“Rapid and reliable genomic testing is essential for identifying patients who may benefit from biomarker-driven clinical studies and emerging precision therapies. 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,” said Dr. Koichi Goto of LC-SCRUM-Asia.

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