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

VolitionRx Ltd. announced the preprint release of research introducing Capture-Seq, a new method for analyzing transcription factor-protected ultrashort DNA fragments in blood as potential low-cost cancer biomarkers. The manuscript, titled "Direct analysis of transcription factor protected cfDNA in plasma by ChIP-seq," highlights Volition's achievement of 180-fold enrichment of transcription factor-bound fragments by focusing on DNA in its natural chromosomal context rather than on chemically extracted DNA. This breakthrough overcomes the longstanding challenge of overwhelming background DNA in liquid biopsy testing that has been described as finding a "needle in a haystack."

Early findings from a 70-person training cohort showed 100 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity across several cancers, including early-stage disease, underscoring the promise of this new biomarker class. The significance of these results lies in their potential to transform cancer detection through a simple blood test that could identify malignancies at their earliest, most treatable stages. Liquid biopsies have faced significant challenges due to the minuscule amounts of cancer-derived DNA circulating in blood compared to normal DNA from healthy cells.

Volition is developing two patent-pending technologies to isolate ultrashort DNA fragments and is in discussions with potential licensing partners as it explores commercial applications, including expansion of its Nu.Q portfolio. The company's approach represents a fundamental shift in how circulating DNA is analyzed, moving away from traditional extraction methods that disrupt the natural biological context of DNA fragments. By preserving the chromosomal context, Volition's technology can specifically target transcription factor-bound fragments that carry important epigenetic information about cellular activity.

The implications of this advancement extend beyond cancer detection to potentially include disease and treatment monitoring applications. For further information about the company's research and development activities, visit https://www.Volition.com. The research preprint represents a significant step forward in making liquid biopsy more practical and cost-effective for widespread clinical use. The technology's ability to achieve such dramatic enrichment while maintaining perfect sensitivity and specificity in initial testing suggests it could address one of the major barriers to liquid biopsy adoption in routine clinical practice.