VolitonRx’s Cancer Test Could be Used to Detect 21 Different Cancers, Study Suggests

Stock.adobe.com

VolitionRx Limited announced that its Nu.Q cancer immunoassay test was able to detect at least 21 different cancers in a recent study.¹ The research also showed that the test has a low false-positive rate.

The test works by looking for cell-free nucleosomes in the blood. The study included 229 patients diagnosed with cancer and 150 healthy subjects. According to VolitionRx, the Nu.Q test was able to detect lung, breast, prostate, and other types of cancers.

In a press release, VolitionRx’s CCO Gael Forterre said, “Our mission since the company was incorporated was to help detect cancer early, with the aim of saving lives and improving outcomes. We are excited to publish this further validation of our Nu.Q® platform; it represents a potential opportunity to disrupt the $20 billion Total Annual Accessible Market for liquid biopsy for multi-cancer early detection in the U.S.1. We are in active discussions regarding our cancer portfolio with several large diagnostic and liquid biopsy companies, with the goal of signing multiple licensing agreements this year, including milestone payments in addition to ongoing revenue. Volition's nucleosome assays can be run on existing automated chemiluminescence platforms worldwide and do not need new hardware. Our commercial strategy is to leverage this base to make Nu.Q® Cancer testing accessible to patients as widely as possible on existing platforms through licensing and partnership arrangements."

In the same press release, Dr. Jake Micallef, chief scientific officer at Volition, said, "This is a breakthrough based on 15 years of development work by our scientific team at Volition. Presently, cancer is often diagnosed symptomatically at a late stage when it has spread to other parts of the body, is difficult to treat and can be deadly. Early detection of cancer at stage I or II is therefore a long-term goal in clinical practice. The accuracy, low-cost and routine nature of the Nu.Q® Cancer test means it may be useful, alongside current cancer screening methods, for detecting cancer before symptoms become apparent, helping to reduce unnecessary invasive biopsies, facilitating early treatment and improving patient outcomes."

Professor Lea Payen works at the department of biochemistry and molecular biology atHospices Civils de Lyon, one of the sites where the study was conducted. In the same press release, she added, “Circulating nucleosome levels show great promise as clinically useful biomarkers in oncology. We are working with Volition to advance the use of nucleosome measurements not only in early cancer detection but also in the management of cancer patients, particularly in the detection of minimal residual disease for assessment of treatment efficacy."

Earlier this month, VolitionRx announced Nu.Q as a test for early lung cancer detection.² In that announcement, VolitionRx explained that it hoped that the test would help transform the lung cancer market by making it easier for patients to get tested earlier on. One of the test’s key benefits is the small blood sample requirement.

In a press release issued at the time, VolitionRx’s chief medical officer Dr. Andrew Retter said, “We are delighted to publish this report ahead of the European Lung Cancer Congress due to be held in Paris 26th to 29th March and would like to thank our collaborators for their contributions. The data included in this report demonstrates a compelling case for the use of Nu.Q® Cancer at multiple points in the patient journey. From screening and aiding treatment selection, to monitoring patients during and after treatment, using Nu.Q® Cancer alongside existing methods such as Low Dose Computed Tomography and/or Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) could significantly improve survival from this deadly disease. We are excited that evidence from a 1050-patient retrospective study of treatment naïve Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer associated with NGS will be published by the Hospices Civils de Lyon team at the Congress."

Sources

1. Volition's Nu.Q® Cancer Diagnostics Test Aims To Disrupt the Multi-Billion Dollar Liquid Biopsy Industry. VolitionRx Limited. March 21, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volitions-nuq-cancer-diagnostics-test-aims-to-disrupt-the-multi-billion-dollar-liquid-biopsy-industry-302407833.html
2. Volition Introduces Nu.Q® Cancer Blood Test in New Industry Primer for Lung Cancer. VolitionRx Limited. March 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volition-introduces-nuq-cancer-blood-test-in-new-industry-primer-for-lung-cancer-302406965.html