Cancer Diagnosis: Early Detection Breakthroughs
Tagomics’ Interlace Platform: Pioneering Early Cancer Detection Through Multiomic Blood Testing
Tagomics is at the forefront of a new era in cancer diagnostics, developing Interlace, a novel multiomic blood test poised to revolutionize early detection. Focused initially on colorectal cancer,the platform leverages cutting-edge epigenomic technology to identify disease signals before symptoms appear,offering the potential for significantly improved patient outcomes.
Targeting the Epigenetic Landscape of Cancer
The foundation of Interlace lies in tagomics’ unique ability to target unmethylated DNA. Loss of DNA methylation is a well-documented indicator of both colorectal and gastric cancers,making colorectal cancer an ideal initial focus for the technology. Unlike conventional diagnostic methods, Interlace offers a complete, multiomic approach, analyzing multiple biomarkers simultaneously from circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA) found in blood samples.This holistic view promises a more accurate and earlier diagnosis.
“Today, around 90 percent of cancer patients in the UK are diagnosed onyl after symptoms appear.This is a failure of current diagnostic testing, and as a scientist developing molecular tests, I know we can do better than this,” explains a Tagomics scientist. “We must move towards earlier, molecular-level detection of disease before patients become symptomatic. we already have the tools to do this, but putting them into practise is a formidable challenge.”
Real-World Evaluation: The 250-Patient Pilot Study
Currently, Tagomics is conducting a 250-patient pilot study in collaboration with the NHS and the Northern Care Alliance Research Collection biobank. This crucial phase will evaluate InterlaceS performance using real-world samples collected directly from a colorectal cancer clinic.
“Our primary goal is to assess its effectiveness for the early detection of colorectal cancer in a clinical setting,” the team states. “We also aim to better understand how clinicians might use the test in practice and identify where it can deliver the greatest impact for patients.”
The pilot study isn’t just about technical validation; it’s about understanding the practical submission of the test within the existing healthcare system. This focus on clinical integration is key to ensuring Interlace’s prosperous adoption and ultimately, its benefit to patients.
Beyond Colorectal Cancer: A Vision for Multi-Cancer Early Detection
While the initial focus is on colorectal cancer, Tagomics envisions a much broader application for Interlace. Following the pilot study, the company plans to undertake clinical validation and utility studies to demonstrate how the test can improve patient outcomes.
Interlace’s unique capabilities extend beyond a single cancer type. Its ability to perform assumption-free, multiomic profiling on minute amounts of cfDNA makes it a versatile tool for scientific labs globally. “Interlace is ideally suited to working with the minute amounts of cfDNA we can typically isolate from blood samples and we’re looking to broaden its application in this setting,in the future,” the team explains. The long-term goal is to establish Interlace as a screening tool for multi-cancer early detection, addressing a critical gap in current diagnostic capabilities.
Accelerated Growth Through Strategic Partnerships and Funding
The rapid advancement of Interlace has been significantly aided by strategic partnerships and funding. Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst funding has been instrumental in addressing the challenges of early colorectal cancer diagnosis, building on previous successes with a lung cancer pilot study. The grant supports key development milestones, including platform adaptation, manufacturing scale-up, and data generation for future studies.
Collaboration is also central to Tagomics’ strategy. A partnership with Agilent, through their Early-Stage Partnership program, has facilitated the integration of SureSelect reagents – specifically the CGP Cancer assay – into the Interlace workflow. The long-standing collaboration with the Northern Care Alliance has been vital for sample collection, biobanking, and establishing connections with NHS clinicians, such as Arash Assadsangabi, who is supporting the current colorectal cancer study.
“These collaborations have been essential in both developing and validating Interlace in real-world clinical settings,” the team emphasizes.
Tagomics’ Interlace platform represents a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, offering a promising path towards earlier detection, improved treatment outcomes, and ultimately, saving lives. The ongoing pilot study and future clinical trials will be critical in realizing this potential and transforming the landscape of cancer diagnostics.