• In a two-year collaboration with HKPOS, 600 lung cancer patients aged 45-74 in Hong Kong will be studied using Lucence's non-invasive liquid biopsy to assess its ability to detect early-stage lung cancer.
• Similar research done with US Veterans Affairs saw notable detection improvement

Lucence, a precision oncology company, and Hong Kong Precision Oncology Society (HKPOS) today announces a research collaboration to evaluate a blood test for early lung cancer detection. This two-year research study is the first early detection of its kind to be conducted in Hong Kong.

Lung cancer was the most common cancer in Hong Kong, with 5,707 new cases and 3,782 deaths (10 deaths daily).^[1] More than half of lung cancer patients were diagnosed at late stage IV and the 5-year survival rate of as low as 10%.^[2] Early detection is critical to improve survival rates, as outcomes are 4 times better when cancer is detected in early.^[3]

Both low-dose CT scanning and blood testing can be helpful for early cancer detection. Liquid biopsies are blood tests useful for detecting cancer in a non-invasive, painless approach.

Lucence and HKPOS will be collaborating to provide and evaluate outcomes of a comprehensive screening protocol for Hongkongers at high-risk for lung cancer. 600 individuals, aged between 45 – 74, will be offered a CT scan by HKPOS and an advanced liquid biopsy test combining both circulating DNA and RNA, as well as relevant health advice by Lucence.

While low-dose CT scans are a valuable tool for early detection, the study aims to explore complementary, less invasive methods to enhance patient comfort and diagnostic accuracy. The study investigates the sensitivity and specificity of liquid biopsy tests for predicting lung cancer lesions measuring 6-20mm, in comparison to using only low-dose CT scans. Lucence's liquid biopsy test samples tumors with a simple, less painful blood draw. This method can detect circulating tumor DNA and RNA in the blood, potentially improving both cancer screening and diagnosis. 600 lung cancer patients aged 45-74 from the Hong Kong Adventist Oncology Centre will participate in the study. Patients with lung nodules detected by low-dose CT scans will then be screened using Lucence's liquid biopsy.

Dr. Joseph, Siu Kie Au, President of the HKPOS, Head and Consultant of Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Oncology Centre, added, "I'm excited about how Lucence's liquid biopsy technology can contribute to better and earlier cancer detection, aligning with HKPOS's mission to pioneer innovative solutions for improving patient outcomes in Hong Kong. Leveraging global advancements in liquid biopsy, HKPOS is proud to lead this groundbreaking initiative, adapting these cutting-edge technologies to address the unique needs of Hong Kong’s healthcare landscape"

Dr. Min-Han Tan, Founder, CEO and Medical Director of Lucence, commented, “My personal mission is to bring potentially life-saving technology to cancer care, and this research partnership with HKPOS will do exactly this. HKPOS has the vision of ending lung cancer in Hong Kong and I believe this research project can highlight the value of better screening. Past results from similar studies conducted in other regions suggest that we can make a real difference in Hong Kong, helping to increase survival rates of those suffering with lung cancer through non-invasive and accurate early detection methods.”

In 2023, Lucence performed a similar research study with the US Veterans Affairs for lung nodule evaluation with blood-tests. The study found that through a combination of liquid biopsy with PET/CT to detect lung nodules, sensitivity for lung cancer diagnosis in small nodules was improved by 33% compared with using PET/CT.

Lucence has supplied precision medicine services to Hong Kong hospitals and clinics since 2018. This includes both LucenceINSIGHT™ for multi-cancer early detection (MCED) of 50 cancers, as well as LiquidHALLMARK® for therapy personalization.

[1] Reference: Cancer Online Resource Hub by The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

[2] Reference: Center for Health Protection: Recommendations on Prevention and Screening for Lung Cancer for Health Professionals

[3] Reference: AACR Cancer Progress Report