The objective of “proLungPlasma” is the clinical validation of a lung cancer test, which detects DNA methylation of the specific biomarker mSHOX2. Methylation of DNA is an important epigenetic process involved in fundamental biological processes as development and cell differentiation. Aberrant DNA methylation plays a major role in cancer development. Epigenomics is very successfully engaged in epigenetic research since 1998 resulting in an outstanding proprietary platform for epigenetic biomarker discovery for cancer. Epigenomics is now market leader in epigenetic biomarker test kits detecting most frequently occurring forms of cancer as colorectal and lung cancer from different sample materials. Lung Cancer is the most deadly of all cancer diseases. Unfortunately, lung cancer screening by Low Dose Computer Tomography (LDCT) is burdened by unacceptably high false positive rates. The newly developed Epi proLung Plasma Reflex Assay is urgently required as a tool for reducing false positive rates. Therefore, the Epi proLung Plasma Reflex Assay is a highly anticipated pre-requisite for successful implementation of lung cancer screening in Europe. This business innovation project will validate the Epi proLung Plasma Reflex Assay for the diagnosis of lung cancer in plasma under the upcoming new IVD regulation. The validation process to be performed in this business innovation project will be used as a blueprint for the standardized validation of all further epigenetic biomarker blood tests. Epigenomics’ established test platform, its product development and regulatory expertise, and the standardized validation process are expected to kick-off further strong growth on major global MDx markets.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in Europe with c. 420,000 cases and 150,000 related deaths in 2012. Of total CRC cases, it is estimated that approximately 50-55 % harbour RAS mutations. Current treatment for RAS mutant (mt) metastatic(m) CRC is primarily based on 5-fluoruracil based chemotherapy +/- bevacizumab. However, there are currently limited treatment options once cancers have become resistant. Moreover, while therapy optimization strategies in RAS wild-type CRC patients are feasible, targeted treatment of microsatellite stable (MSS) RAS mt disease is difficult and has not evolved significantly in recent years. COLOSSUS will deliver novel concepts for disease-mechanism based patient stratification in MSS RAS mt mCRC to address the need for stratified or personalised therapeutic interventions in this setting. The consortium will integrate multidimensional and longitudinal omics data to identify new MSS RAS mt specific subtypes with unique signalling dependences. We will harness the power of systems biomedicine, network analysis and computational modelling to identify new actionable pathways, biomarkers and targets across subtypes. These targets will be interrogated in state of the art pre-clinical patient derived xenograft studies. Newly described MSS RAS mt classifiers will be validated as novel patient stratification tools within the COLOSSUS trial. SME partners will develop clinically relevant and commercially viable assays for outcome prediction and stratification of MSS RAS mt patients based on novel classifiers. The impact of assays on CRC associated healthcare costs will further be assessed. Patient associations will be included and the proposal will consider regulatory aspects and commercialisation opportunities, in particular for participating SMEs. mCRC is a complex disease having high prevalence and high economic impact both within a European and global context.