Molecular diagnostic firm OncoCyte plans to launch its blood-based test to detect cancer later this year after a successful study of 300 lung cancer patients. The company’s algorithm was able to correctly identify lung nodules, which can help physicians determine malignancies and size. The technology could keep doctors from performing potentially risky and expensive tumour biopsies, and in future could help to eliminate invasive tests for cancer altogether. A new type of gene therapy is being tested by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, who hope it will lead to treatments that are more effective than current ones.
Molecular diagnostic firm OncoCyte plans to launch its blood-based test to detect cancer later this year after a successful study of 300 lung cancer patients. The company’s algorithm was able to correctly identify lung nodules, which can help physicians determine malignancies and size. The technology could keep doctors from performing potentially risky and expensive tumour biopsies, and in future could help to eliminate invasive tests for cancer altogether. OncoCyte plans to apply for certification and carry out clinical validation studies before commercialising its product.