#Finland #Turku #Colorectal Cancer #Genomill Health #Bridge Capture

Introduction

Genomill Health is making waves in the field of biotechnology with the introduction of their innovative Bridge Capture™ technology. This cutting-edge platform aims to simplify and enhance the targeted library preparation for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Specifically, it has demonstrated remarkable performance in detecting mutations from blood samples in metastatic colorectal cancer patients, a critical advancement that could reshape cancer diagnostics.

Bridging the Gap in Cancer Detection

Recent clinical studies published in Scientific Reports showcased the impressive sensitivity of Bridge Capture™ in mutation profiling. Collaborating with Professor Ari Ristimäki’s team from Helsinki University Hospital, Genomill proved that this technology can match the performance of standard methods like droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a benchmark for mutation detection, while also allowing for unlimited panel scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use in decentralized testing.

Clinical Success

The clinical pilot study highlighted Bridge Capture™'s ability to detect key genetic mutations in circulating cell-free DNA, showcasing a high degree of concordance with ddPCR and Ion AmpliSeq™ methods. Additionally, the technology revealed previously unknown oncogenic mutations, providing insights into disease progression through longitudinal plasma samples. Doctoral researcher and co-first author Simona Adamusová emphasized the potential of Bridge Capture™ to track cancer progression and relapse effectively.

A Step Forward for Liquid Biopsies

Manu Tamminen, CEO and Co-Founder of Genomill, underlined the significance of this clinical pilot study as it demonstrates the readiness of Bridge Capture™ for real-world applications in liquid biopsies. The method is designed to overcome current limitations in cancer diagnostic practices by minimizing cost and infrastructure constraints that have historically hampered routine clinical use. By providing a simple laboratory workflow compatible with various sequencing platforms, Bridge Capture™ holds promise for decentralized and longitudinal cancer diagnostics.

Innovative Technology

At its core, Bridge Capture™ leverages Genomill's Geno1® technologies built on circular and linear DNA amplification. Juha-Pekka Pursiheimo, the Chief Technology Officer and inventor of the technology, described it as a new standard for NGS library design using circular single-stranded DNA. This innovation stands out as a more robust alternative to traditional linear libraries and, combined with their PCR-free DNA amplification techniques, positions Genomill to potentially revolutionize NGS library preparation.

Conclusion

The successful outcomes associated with Bridge Capture™ signify a meaningful leap forward in the cancer diagnostic landscape. With its unparalleled sensitivity, scalability, and user-friendly application, the technology could prove to be essential in improving liquid biopsy testing and enhancing treatment monitoring capabilities for colorectal cancer. Hope for patients and healthcare providers alike lies in the seamless integration of such advanced technologies into daily clinical practice, paving the way for more accessible and effective cancer diagnostics in the near future.

For further details, access the full study titled Evaluation of Bridge Capture technology for mutation profiling in liquid biopsies of metastatic colorectal cancer patients at Scientific Reports. For more information about Genomill, visit genomill.com.