Multimodal Liquid Biopsy Approach Integrates ctDNA, CTC and Protein Biomarkers from Single Blood Sample
Posted on 08 Dec 2023
Liquid biopsy, a method of analyzing biomarkers present in bodily fluids like blood, presents a less invasive, more accessible, and quicker alternative to traditional tumor biopsies. It has been recognized for a long time that blood or other biological fluids contain measurable markers, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and cells, which are indicative of disease prognosis, recurrence, and overall survival. The discovery of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cancer patients dates back to the late 19th century, and over a century later, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was also identified in cancer patients. In recent years, liquid biopsy has seen a surge in importance, playing a significant role in various aspects of cancer management, including early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring drug responses. However, the challenge lies in detecting and quantifying these biomarkers efficiently due to their exceedingly low concentrations in blood samples.
NVIGEN (Santa Clara, CA, USA) has introduced its innovative NVIGEN X-Precision Medicine Biomarker Profiling technology for liquid biopsy. This new approach to cancer patient monitoring uniquely combines the analysis of ctDNA, CTC, and protein biomarkers from a single blood sample. The NVIGEN X comprehensive liquid biopsy utilizes a novel, multimodal approach that integrates ctDNA, CTC, and protein biomarkers. This method is specifically designed to overcome the challenges associated with cancer metastatic recurrence and the limitations of current technologies that primarily focus on ctDNA. These conventional methods often suffer from sub-optimal detection sensitivity and accuracy. NVIGEN's nanoparticle capture platform enables comprehensive and longitudinal cancer monitoring suitable for broad clinical applications through magnetic automation. The technology offers invaluable insights into cancer biology, response to treatments, and potential new therapeutic targets.
In a study that included 36 patient samples, the NVIGEN X technology demonstrated its effectiveness by detecting 2.5 times more variants than traditional methods that rely solely on ctDNA analysis. This study identified key gene alterations like ESR1, ERBB2, and PIK3CA, providing crucial data for making informed treatment decisions. Additionally, the inclusion of protein biomarker analysis in the NVIGEN X technology further enhances its accuracy, thereby supporting personalized diagnostic approaches.
“NVIGEN X exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, providing the field with powerful tools for biomarker detection and personalized cancer care,” said Weiwei Gu, Ph.D., NVIGEN VP of Laboratory and Operation. “We are now offering NVIGEN X assays for clinical research uses. It is exciting to see more applications utilizing the unique capabilities of our comprehensive and highly accurate multimodal assays for better biomarker identification, disease dynamics understanding, minimal residual disease monitoring, and treatment management.”
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