19 mrt 2025
Cyclomics and collaborators have published a study in Genome Research showcasing NanoRCS, a new nanopore-based technology that enhances genome-wide ctDNA sequencing for ultra-sensitive, cost-effective, and rapid cancer detection.
Teams of Cyclomics, the UMC Utrecht, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam and Debye Institute of Nanomaterials have joined forces to develop new technology for the genome-wide analysis of cell free DNA in the blood of patients with cancer. The results from their efforts have been published in the prominent scientific journal Genome Research. https://genome.cshlp.org/content/early/2025/01/13/gr.279144.124.full.pdf+html
In a nutshell, the research in the paper describes development of new technology called Nanopore Rolling Circle Amplification-enhanced Consensus Sequencing (NanoRCS) to improve cancer detection through blood tests. The major challenge related to the detection of cancer from blood involves the identification of small genetic changes, especially when the amount of tumor DNA in the blood is very low. NanoRCS addresses this challenge by using advanced nanopore sequencing technology combined with a technique that amplifies DNA, allowing for more accurate detection of these tiny genetic alterations.
In the study, NanoRCS was tested on blood and ascites samples from 18 cancer patients and 3 healthy individuals. The results showed that NanoRCS can detect tumor DNA present at a very low fraction (as low as 0.24%), a significant improvement over existing methods. This enhanced sensitivity means that even minimal amounts of tumor DNA circulating in the bloodstream can be identified, facilitating earlier and more accurate cancer detection. Moreover, NanoRCS offers a cost-effective and rapid processing approach, aligning well with clinical needs, particularly in settings where quick and accurate cancer monitoring is essential for personalized treatment strategies.
NanoRCS represents a significant advancement in non-invasive cancer detection. The Cyclomics team will further optimize the technology described in this paper and aims to implement it in the context of diagnostic products.