Glasgow-based liquid biopsy company, Dxcover Limited, has been awarded first prize at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023 in the Innovative Diagnostic Tools category for its groundbreaking Dxcover Platform. This platform utilizes Multi-Omic Spectral Analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to detect early-stage tumors across multiple cancers. The platform’s potential for early detection of cancer has garnered attention and recognition from the scientific community.
The Dxcover Platform was the focus of a study recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, which recruited 2,092 patients, including 1,592 cancer samples. By leveraging FTIR spectroscopy to analyze all macromolecules in patient serum and combining it with machine learning algorithms, the Dxcover Platform was able to build spectral profiles capable of detecting breast, colorectal, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. The study demonstrated that the platform successfully differentiated between cancer and non-cancer patients, with notable sensitivity and specificity.
While specificity was 99%, the Dxcover Platform detected 64% of stage I cancers, with an overall sensitivity of 56%. By tuning the model for higher sensitivity, it identified 99% of stage I cancers with a specificity of 58%. When considering cancer versus all non-cancer patients, the platform achieved 90% sensitivity with 61% specificity. The detection rates for different cancer stages were also impressive, with rates of 93% for stage I, 84% for stage II, 92% for stage III, and 95% for stage IV.
The potential of the Dxcover Platform lies in its ability to detect multiple cancer types and their precursors, which can aid in ruling out non-cancer patients and prioritizing at-risk individuals for further diagnostic investigation. Early detection is crucial, as delayed diagnosis can lead to metastasis and decreased treatment effectiveness.
Prof. Matthew Baker, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Dxcover, expressed his gratitude for the recognition from ESMO and the opportunity to contribute to the early detection of cancer. He emphasized the company’s mission to increase the likelihood of effective treatment options for patients by detecting cancer at its earliest stages. Dxcover is dedicated to fostering partnerships to further develop its unique cancer screening method and make a positive impact on patient outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q: What is the Dxcover Platform?
A: The Dxcover Platform is a liquid biopsy technology developed by Dxcover Limited, aimed at the early detection of multiple cancers through Multi-Omic Spectral Analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
Q: How accurate is the Dxcover Platform in detecting cancer?
A: The Dxcover Platform demonstrated significant sensitivity and specificity in detecting various cancer types. It detected 64% of stage I cancers with 99% specificity, and when tuned for higher sensitivity, it identified 99% of stage I cancers with 58% specificity.
Q: Why is early cancer detection important?
A: Early detection of cancer increases the likelihood of effective treatment options for patients. Delayed diagnosis can lead to cancer metastasis and poorer prognosis, as well as increased treatment costs.
Q: What are the next steps for Dxcover?
A: Dxcover has completed a retrospective study indicating enhanced capability to detect advanced adenomas, the precursors of colorectal cancer. The company will also begin a major prospective collection of samples later this year.
Source: Business Wire (https://www.businesswire.com)