NEW YORK – Liquid biopsy diagnostic company DiaCarta said this week that its RadTox cell-free DNA test for monitoring radiation therapy toxicity in cancer patients will be deployed throughout Florida as part of a $1 million research project financed by the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund.
The project, entitled "Using Plasma DNA Concentration [DNA] for Early Detection of Treatment Response and Resistance," is being led by Paul Okunieff, professor and chair of the department of radiation oncology at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In this project, researchers will use a plasma biomarker developed by UF physicians to provide quantitative information designed to enable physicians to deliver safer and more effective treatments, according to a UF Health statement.
DiaCarta, based in Pleasanton, California, said that its RadTox test will be performed between radiotherapy or chemotherapy doses for real-time detection of treatment response or resistance, with the results serving as a real-time predictor of imaging data.
The RadTox cfDNA test uses proprietary SuperbDNA technology and runs on Luminex instrumentation, according to DiaCarta's website. The assay quantitatively detects specific nucleic acid sequences directly from the source without DNA or RNA purification or RT-PCR, and has a limit of detection of about 0.05 ng/ml.
"The innovation award will allow my team in radiation oncology, along with researchers and patient advocates in the Florida-California Health Equity Center (CaRE2) and at Florida A&M University, to begin to answer fundamental questions asked by most every cancer patient," Okunieff said in a statement. "This will be deployed throughout the state, and performance of the test will be evaluated to determine its benefits."