Real-world performance of a multi-cancer early detection test based on integrative analysis of cell-free DNA whole-methylome sequencing.

Authors

null

Yulong LI

Genecast Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China

Yulong LI , Xiaofeng Song , Ning Shen , Yuanyuan Hong , Ying Yang , Yu S. Huang , Weizhi Chen

Organizations

Genecast Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: Early detection and diagnosis is key to reducing cancer-related mortality. We developed a blood-based multi-cancer early detection test, called THEMIS, using multimodal analysis of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation, fragmentation, and copy number alteration features by whole-methylome sequencing (WMS). The real-world performance of THEMIS was investigated with a prospective cohort of high-risk populations and the preliminary results were reported here. Methods: A total of 1,374 adults over 65 y with additional cancer risk factors for five common cancers (colorectal, esophageal, liver, lung, or stomach cancer) were recruited in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China. Additional risk factors included fecal occult blood, smoking history, H. pylori infection, HBV infection, and serum protein biomarkers. Participants had no known cancer diagnosis at the time of administration. Blood samples were collected and subject to low-pass WMS assay (~2X) and cancer probability was predicted by the THEMIS model, which was developed and locked in previous studies. Participants predicted as cancer positive by THEMIS were followed up until positive cancer diagnosis in a clinic or one year after receiving the test report, whichever was earlier. Results: At a fixed cutoff rendering 99% training specificity, THEMIS predicted 58 (4.15%) positive cases, among whom 19 participants consented to and completed follow-up. Ten participants received confirmed cancer diagnosis within the follow-up period, including five lung cancers, three liver cancers, one esophageal cancer, and one colorectal cancer. These results yielded a positive predictive value (PPV) of 52.6%. Those who declined follow-up upon a positive THEMIS report were predicted with digestive tract cancers, which need gastrointestinal endoscope for diagnostic confirmation. Conclusions: The nonivasive blood-based THEMIS test demonstrated promising performance and patient compliance for clinical utility to detect cancer early and improve patient outcome. Given that clinical follow-ups were only conducted with a subset of participants, future investigations of the precise real-world performance of THEMIS are needed with more complete patient follow-up.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Discussion Session

Session Title

Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Hereditary Cancer

Track

Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Genetics

Sub Track

Etiology/Epidemiology

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr 10521)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.10521

Abstract #

10521

Poster Bd #

154

Abstract Disclosures

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