Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd (ASX: PIQ) has been invited to present the latest results from its novel blood test for oesophageal adenocarcinoma at the 19th ISDE World Congress for Esophageal Diseases in Toronto in September.
The test has previously shown strong diagnostic performance, with a prototype version correctly identifying up to 90 per cent of patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma. It has already been validated using 300 samples from two independent clinical cohorts.
The conference comes as Proteomics International signs an agreement to access 350 additional patient samples from the Victorian Cancer Biobank. The cohort comprises blood samples from oesophageal and other selected cancer patients. These samples will be used for external validation of the accuracy of the company’s current prototype oesophageal cancer test, with results expected early next year.
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is the most common form of oesophageal cancer and is an area of significant unmet medical need. Screening currently requires a specialist endoscopy procedure that costs US$2,750 per patient in the United States, where the total expenditure on treating oesophageal cancer was $2.9 billion in 2018. The overall five-year survival rate for this cancer is less than 20 per cent, and one in 20 cancer deaths worldwide in 2018 were attributed to oesophageal cancer.
Proteomics International’s test uses biomarkers—protein ‘fingerprints’ in the blood—to diagnose both oesophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett’s oesophagus, a pre-malignant condition associated with an increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
An estimated 10-15% of patients with chronic acid reflux develop Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition which is asymptomatic and affects 1-2% of Western populations . People with Barrett’s oesophagus are much more likely to get oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and are advised to get regular endoscopies to screen for oesophageal cancer.
Proteomics International Managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe said the samples from the Victorian Cancer Biobank will allow the company to expand its study and provide added confidence in the test’s diagnostic performance.
“This technology has the potential to act as a screening test for oesophageal adenocarcinoma, providing earlier diagnosis without the need for an invasive endoscopy. We believe an externally-validated test will garner significant interest, both commercially and in the clinic.”
The Victorian Cancer Biobank through the Cancer Council Victoria as Lead Agency is supported by the Victorian Government through the Victorian Cancer Agency, a business unit of the Department of Health.
