Data to be presented at the 11th EDRN Scientific Workshop
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., September 10 — Bluestar Genomics, a company developing innovative, data-driven, epigenomic approaches to comprehensive disease analysis and diagnostics, has announced the presentation of data demonstrating the feasibility of a blood test, based on genome-wide profiling of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in cell-free DNA, providing earlier detection and classification of multiple cancers. 5hmC has been shown to be a precise and dynamic molecular modification to DNA that characterizes changes in gene activation, a necessary biological requirement for cancer onset and progression. These results will be presented at the 11th Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) Scientific Workshop on September 10 through 12 in Bethesda, Maryland.
“Bluestar Genomics is dedicated to identifying aggressive cancer biology at its earliest stages, when there is the greatest possibility for successful treatment and cure. We believe cell-free epigenomic biomarkers in convenient blood tests enable accurate noninvasive diagnostics, creating new opportunities for earlier and more targeted treatment,” said Patrick Arensdorf, Chief Executive Officer, Bluestar Genomics. “Our unique 5hmC profiling technology for earlier detection of multiple cancers brings us closer to our vision of providing clinicians with the earliest actionable measurements of cancer.”
5hmC levels have been found to change significantly in cancer cells and tumors. Using 5hmC biomarkers in blood, Bluestar Genomics is developing novel approaches to classify multiple early stage cancers noninvasively. The current study discovered genomic loci (genes and non-coding genomic regions) with altered 5hmC blood profiles in patients with confirmed breast and pancreatic cancers compared to those in similar subjects without cancer. By employing machine learning techniques, the company created classification algorithms to accurately identify breast and pancreatic cancers, demonstrating a classification performance of 0.89 and 0.95 respectively (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve). These scores indicate that Bluestar Genomics’ classification tests have a high probability of distinguishing early stage cancers using simple blood tests.
“Although 5hmC signals have been previously identified as usable for cancer classification, Bluestar Genomics has, for the first time, been able to demonstrate the potential of this biomarker to enable classification in the blood of early-stage breast and pancreatic cancer patients,” said Samuel Levy, Chief Scientific Officer, Bluestar Genomics. “The results from this study demonstrate the importance and value of discovering epigenetic biomarkers that provide the sensitivity needed for blood-based early detection. It sets the stage for us to develop molecular tests that will empower clinicians to confidently treat cancer earlier, and with greater success.”
Bluestar Genomics’ novel epigenomic technology represents a significant stride toward the validation of the company’s blood-based assays to detect cancer in early stages. In addition to breast and pancreatic cancer, the company is currently exploring the use of their diagnostic platform for detection of multiple cancers where earlier detection will address a critical unmet clinical need and thus improve patient care.
About Bluestar Genomics
Bluestar Genomics develops next-generation epigenomic approaches to noninvasive molecular testing, providing novel insights in human health and disease towards the improvement of healthcare outcomes. Founded out of the Stanford laboratory of Dr. Stephen Quake, Bluestar Genomics combines biological ingenuity with AI and big data analysis to tackle the most urgent challenges in oncology, immunology, neurology, cardiovascular disease and beyond. Leveraging the ease of liquid biopsy technologies, the company’s cell-free DNA-based assays are targeting large, unmet clinical needs, using simple and noninvasive samples to improve healthcare outcomes. Led by a team with decades of experience bringing products from concept to market, Bluestar Genomics is continuously seeking better ways to measure disease pathology and bring its technologies to the patients, clinicians and scientists searching for tomorrow’s cures.
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