Volition's Capture-Seq Technology Achieves Breakthrough 180-Fold Enrichment in Liquid Biopsy Cancer Detection

VolitionRx Ltd. has announced a significant advancement in liquid biopsy technology with the development of Capture-Seq, a new method that addresses one of the most persistent challenges in cancer detection through blood tests. The company's research demonstrates a 180-fold enrichment of transcription factor–bound DNA fragments, overcoming what has been described as the "needle in a haystack" problem in liquid biopsy testing where cancer signals are overwhelmed by background DNA.

The breakthrough centers on analyzing DNA in its natural chromosomal context rather than chemically extracted DNA, allowing for more precise identification of cancer biomarkers. According to the preprint manuscript titled "Direct analysis of transcription factor protected cfDNA in plasma by ChIP-seq," this approach represents a new class of potential low-cost cancer biomarkers that could transform early detection efforts. Early findings from a 70-person training cohort showed remarkable results, with 100 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity across several cancers, including early-stage disease.

This development matters because liquid biopsies represent a less invasive alternative to traditional tissue biopsies, potentially enabling earlier cancer detection when treatment is most effective. The overwhelming background DNA in blood samples has been a major technical hurdle that has limited the widespread adoption of liquid biopsy technology. Volition's achievement of 18,000% enrichment suggests a path toward more reliable, cost-effective cancer screening that could be implemented on a broader scale.

Volition is developing two patent-pending technologies to isolate ultrashort DNA fragments and is exploring commercial applications, including expansion of its Nu.Q portfolio. The company is currently in discussions with potential licensing partners as it moves toward commercialization. For those interested in the technical details, the full research is available at https://ibn.fm/5QHbn.

The implications of this advancement extend beyond improved detection rates. If successfully commercialized, this technology could significantly reduce healthcare costs associated with cancer diagnosis and monitoring while improving patient outcomes through earlier intervention. The company's focus on epigenetics—the study of changes in gene expression that don't involve alterations to the DNA sequence—represents an emerging frontier in cancer diagnostics that may provide more accurate and comprehensive information about disease progression than traditional genetic testing alone.

As Volition continues its research and development activities primarily in Belgium, with additional facilities in the U.S. and London, the medical community will be watching closely to see if these promising early results can be replicated in larger, more diverse patient populations. The potential for this technology to be adapted for monitoring treatment response and disease recurrence adds another dimension to its importance in the ongoing fight against cancer.