VolitionRx Ltd. (NYSE American: VNRX), a multi-national epigenetics company, has announced a significant advancement in liquid biopsy technology through its new Capture-Seq method. The preprint research, titled "Direct analysis of transcription factor protected cfDNA in plasma by ChIP-seq," demonstrates a 180-fold enrichment of transcription factor-bound ultrashort DNA fragments in blood, effectively solving what the company describes as liquid biopsy's "needle in a haystack" problem.
The breakthrough centers on analyzing DNA in its natural chromosomal context rather than chemically extracted DNA, which allows Volition to overcome the longstanding challenge of overwhelming background DNA that has limited liquid biopsy accuracy. This approach focuses on transcription factor-protected ultrashort DNA fragments that serve as potential low-cost cancer biomarkers. Early findings from a 70-person training cohort showed remarkable results: 100 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity across several cancers, including early-stage disease.
The implications for cancer detection and monitoring are substantial. Liquid biopsies represent a minimally invasive alternative to traditional tissue biopsies, but their effectiveness has been hampered by the difficulty of isolating meaningful cancer signals from the vast amount of normal DNA circulating in blood. Volition's 18,000% enrichment achievement suggests a path toward more reliable, accessible cancer screening that could detect malignancies earlier when treatment is most effective. The company is developing two patent-pending technologies to isolate these ultrashort DNA fragments and is exploring commercial applications, including expansion of its Nu.Q portfolio.
For business and technology leaders, this development represents both a scientific milestone and a potential market disruption. The ability to achieve such high enrichment rates while maintaining perfect sensitivity and specificity in early testing suggests Volition may have overcome one of the most significant technical barriers in liquid biopsy development. The company's approach could enable more cost-effective cancer screening programs and create new opportunities in precision medicine. Volition is currently in discussions with potential licensing partners as it moves toward commercialization.
The research manuscript is available through the company's announcement at https://ibn.fm/5QHbn. Volition's work in epigenetics focuses on developing simple, easy-to-use blood tests to help detect and monitor various diseases, with research and development activities centered in Belgium and additional facilities in the U.S. and London. The company maintains its corporate website at https://www.Volition.com where additional information about their epigenetic research can be found.
