LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Oxford BioDynamics announced the publication of a multi-institutional clinical study on Wednesday, confirming the accuracy of its EpiSwitch Colorectal No-Stool Test (NST) in detecting colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps using a blood sample.
The AIM-traded firm said the study, published in the journal Cancers, reported an 81% accuracy rate for detecting early-stage colorectal cancer and 82% for non-cancerous polyps.

It said the research involved collaboration between Oxford BioDynamics, Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia, University Hospitals NHS Trust, and multiple Malaysian hospitals.

Using blood samples from 325 patients, the study identified and validated two eight-marker signatures using the EpiSwitch 3D genomics platform.

It said the test enabled early and accurate detection of colorectal cancer and polyps, offering a potential alternative to conventional screening methods.

Oxford BioDynamics said it was in discussions with potential partners to bring the test into clinical practice.

The company highlighted the potential of EpiSwitch technology in mapping key biomarkers to genetic pathways that contribute to colorectal cancer progression.

"Reliable and non-invasive detection of early stages of colorectal cancer, as well as the polyps, has been the focus of strenuous efforts by a number of big biomarker companies deploying common biomarker modalities," said chief scientific officer Dr Alexandre Akoulitchev.

"To date the results in terms of sensitivity of detection for polyps and positive predictive value for cancer have been disappointing.

"Our own approach and these reported results demonstrate the consistent accuracy of EpiSwitch technology for the most challenging patient stratifications and will allow us to progress our ongoing commercial discussions with third parties."

At 1125 GMT, shares in Oxford BioDynamics were flat at 0.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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