Abstract 1027: A multicenter clinical performance evaluation of a liquid biopsy for earlier brain cancer detection
Authors: James M. Cameron, Georgios Antoniou, Paul Brennan, Holly Butler, David Eustace, Asgeir Jakola, Michael Jenkinson, Senada Koljenovic, Alan Lazarus, Ryan Mathew, David Palmer, Isaac Phang, Alexandra Sala, Tobias Weiss, Matthew Baker
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Diagnostic delays impact the quality of life and survival of patients with brain cancer. Currently, with no blood test to assist them, clinicians must make their referral decision based on symptoms. Existing symptom-based referral guidelines inadequately stratify patients for brain imaging based on suspicion of cancer. A simple, rapid liquid biopsy placed in a primary care setting would enable more efficient triage of patients with non-specific symptoms related to brain cancer. The Dxcover® Liquid Biopsy is a rapid multi-omic liquid biopsy that interrogates a blood sample with infrared radiation and produces a distinctive signature that represents the whole biomolecular profile of the sample, and is sensitive to the hallmarks of brain cancer. The nature of the technology also allows for the diagnostic models to be tailored towards higher sensitivity (or specificity) depending on clinical priorities and international healthcare markets. In initial feasibility studies, we recruited 988 patients prospectively with non-specific symptoms associated with a brain tumor, and the algorithm detected 96% of the patients with brain tumors and 100% of glioblastomas (GBM), when tuned for greater sensitivity. EMBRACE is a prospective, observational, multicenter study, currently recruiting patients across seven sites in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland. The study duration is 24 months and will recruit a minimum of 2200 participants by the end of 2024. The target population is comprised of patients presenting to primary care with non-specific symptoms that are associated with brain cancer, such as headache and new onset neurological defect. The primary objective is to determine the clinical performance of the liquid biopsy for patients with brain cancer, in terms of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The test performance will be determined by comparing the liquid biopsy result to diagnostic imaging. The results of the EMBRACE study will be shared for the first time at the meeting. Earlier and expeditious diagnoses in these patients are crucial to reduce the morbidities and mortalities associated with brain cancer. This simple, non-invasive liquid biopsy would facilitate the triage of brain tumor patients for rapid imaging. Citation Format: James M. Cameron, Georgios Antoniou, Paul Brennan, Holly Butler, David Eustace, Asgeir Jakola, Michael Jenkinson, Senada Koljenovic, Alan Lazarus, Ryan Mathew, David Palmer, Isaac Phang, Alexandra Sala, Tobias Weiss, Matthew Baker. A multicenter clinical performance evaluation of a liquid biopsy for earlier brain cancer detection [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 1027.