Solid cancer

Cancer is a genetic disease. The accumulation of somatic mutations in the DNA of a cell leads to deregulation of its physiological functions resulting in uncontrolled growth eventually leading to cancer development. Once established, tumors shed DNA that can reach the circulatory system (circulating-free DNA or cfDNA).
Thus, monitoring the emergence of somatic mutations present in cfDNA may allow the detection of cancer at very early stages.
Early stage tumors with no metastatic spread have a significant better chance to be successfully treated. Based on the analysis of cfDNA using Next Generation Sequencing technology (NGS), HELIXAFE, performed on a regular base, provides a mutation frequency monitoring system and a risk assessment for tumor incidence. In the last decade, the NGS technology has revolutionized medical genetics and pathology allowing to inexpensively sequence the human genome at high speed and accuracy.
Using a proprietary algorithm developed at the Bioscience Genomics, HELIXAFE annual prevention program allows the monitoring of mutations frequency via the interrogation of 2800 hotspots of mutations over 50 solid tumors-associated genes.

OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT RISK

Currently the risk assessment of solid cancers is based on the evaluation of the clinical medical history and familiarity of a patient, along with the analysis of certain biomarkers (e.g. PSA for prostate tumor) at a specific time point. In many cases however, this approach fails to detect cancer at its early onset.
Using a monitoring approach, HELIXAFE analyzes in real-time the emergence of cancer-associated mutations through NGS technology generating a risk score via customized proprietary software.

Lung Cancer

The main cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoke. Several studies indicate that there is a clear dose-effect relationship between inhaling tobacco and development of lung cancer.
Studies report that the risk of having lung cancer is 14 times higher among smokers than non-smokers (up to 20 times for heavy smokers, e.g. 20 cigarettes per day).
Cigarette smoke is responsible for the vest majority of lung tumors.
Air pollution, family history of lung cancer, as well as various pathological conditions affecting the normal lung physiology may also contribute to increase the possibility of being affected by this disease.

HELIXMOKER is a cancer prevention program specifically designed for smokers. Upon the mutational status analysis of genes directly involved in lung cancer onset, a patient has the possibility to discover at a very early stage if he/she is affected by lung cancer.

Bowel cancer

HELIXCOLON is a prevention program that provides yearly assessment of 14 genes and 246 hotspots associated to the development of colorectal cancer.
Currently, screening tests used to detect colorectal cancer are based on blood detection in fecal samples, or in some cases the rectum sigmoidoscopy.
In western countries, colon-rectum cancer represents the second most common malignant tumor and it has a mortality rate of 13% at 5-years after diagnosis.
The occurrence of colorectal cancer is quite rare before the age of 40y and it is increasingly frequent from the age of 60y reaching a peak at age 80y, affecting men and women equally.

Risk factors concerning colorectal cancer development obesity, genetic predisposition, age, inflammatory chronic bowel diseases and clinical history of colon polyps play a major role.
Colorectal cancer is often silent, having mild clinical symptoms till late stages and is often resulting from the evolution of a benign lesion (as the adenomatous polyps) acquiring genetic abnormalities over relative long period of time (usually several years to decades).
Thus, HELIXCOLON prevention program would ensure a timely identification of degenerating lesions allowing a prompt intervention strategy.