VolitionRx (NYSE:VNRX) has reported over 90% accuracy for its new cancer blood test in a study into colorectal cancer in Belgium.
In the latest of a series of very encouraging results in cancer studies, VolitionRx’s NuQ test identified 23 colorectal cancer sufferers out 121 patients tested, a 91% success rate.
The study at the CHU Dinant Godinne - UCL Namur hospital was carried out on patients either at high risk or with symptoms suggesting the presence of colorectal cancer ahead of colonoscopy to see if NuQ could predict the result.
A panel test of four NuQ biomarker assays, adjusted for age, detected 91% of colorectal cancer cases at 90% specificity.
In addition the results showed equally accurate detection of early- and late-stage cancers.
The same panel test also detected 67% of the type of polyps most likely to develop into cancer demonstrating an ability to recognise a spectrum of cancer development from pre-cancerous polyps through early-stage to late-stage colorectal cancer.
Professor Lionel D'Hondt, Head of the Department of Oncology at CHU Dinant Godinne - UCL Namur, said: "The development of better methods for the early detection of colorectal cancer is critical for the improvement of patients' survival rates.
“We have found that a NuQ panel test detects colorectal cancer and pre-cancer, with high accuracy, indicating it may be useful as a routine clinical colorectal cancer blood test."
Jake Micallef, VolitionRx chief scientific officer, added, "Current screening options for colorectal cancer are limited to invasive endoscopy procedures and fecal tests. Neither of these methods is patient-friendly and their uptake by the population at large is poor.
“In contrast, a NuQ panel test uses a tiny amount of blood and could be added to a routine medical check-up along with cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function, and other commonly administered blood tests.”
Cameron Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of VolitionRx, added: "To detect colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous polyps with such high accuracy in an affordable blood test is a notable development.
“VolitionRx has demonstrated detection rates of 90% or higher in pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and now colorectal cancer.
“Even more encouraging is the accuracy in detecting early-stage cancers and pre-cancers."