Easy-to-Administer Blood Test Could Enable High-Risk Lung Cancer Screening

Early detection of tumors provides the best opportunity to reduce cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. Traditional circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) liquid biopsy approaches have biological limitations and cannot reliably detect early-stage cancer. To overcome the limitations of traditional liquid biopsy approaches and increase global access to cancer screening, a non-invasive, blood-based assay is currently being developed utilizing innovative technology.

Mercy Halo is a pioneering test being developed by Mercy BioAnalytics, Inc. (Natick, MA, USA) for early cancer detection that analyzes single extracellular vesicles (EVs). These EVs are highly abundant in circulation even in the early stages of cancer and carry unique cancer signatures from their parent cells. According to modeling, a Stage I cancer patient's one mL blood sample with a one-centimeter tumor contains 100,000 tumor-derived EVs while it is expected to have ≤ one copy of ctDNA. An active tumor cell secretes around 1,000 EVs every day while it only releases its two genomic copies of DNA after it dies.

Image: Mercy Halo is a pioneering test being developed for early cancer detection (Photo courtesy of Mercy BioAnalytics)

EVs carry surface proteins that contain information about their tumor cell of origin. By simultaneously measuring multiple proteins co-localized on the surface of single EVs, the Mercy Halo test achieves high sensitivity and specificity. In theory, EVs can allow for the detection of tumors at very early stages when are most treatable, thereby improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families. The higher stability of EVs compared to ctDNA makes the Mercy Halo test a reliable source for assessing cancer signals in biobanked samples. The platform's primary focus is detecting Stage I cancer, when treatment is most effective, with an initial focus on ovarian and lung cancers. The potential for EVs to detect tumors at an early stage makes it a promising tool for enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

“Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, and liquid biopsy-based screening represents a meaningful opportunity to address barriers that contribute to disparities in early cancer detection, including in medically underserved populations,” said Mercy BioAnalytics CEO Dawn Mattoon, PhD. “We believe the Mercy Halo testing platform is uniquely capable of delivering high-performing, broadly accessible cancer screening across all communities. A simple, inexpensive blood-based screening test could be a vital new tool to significantly increase patient engagement in lung cancer screening, creating the opportunity to save lives through early detection.”

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