Arquer Announces Clinical Study for Recurrent Bladder Cancer

Arquer Diagnostics Ltd (Arquer) has announced the start of a six month clinical study to optimize the effectiveness of the company’s Mcm5-ELISA test for the diagnosis of recurrent bladder cancer. The study will be led by Tim Dudderidge MB ChB MSc FRCS (Urol) at the Southampton General Hospital and follows on from the recent successful screening trial involving 350 haematuria patients, which indicated the Mcm5-ELISA test has a Sensitivity of 83% Specificity of 77% and Negative Predictive Value of 98%.

Roughly 65% of bladder cancer cases recur within five years and patients are routinely monitored on a periodic basis after treatment. Currently, this is done using cystoscopy, which is expensive and uncomfortable for patients. Arquer is developing a simple urine based test which aims to reduce the number of cystoscopies each bladder cancer patient undergoes.

Arquer’s Mcm5-ELISA diagnostic test detects the presence of minichromosome maintenance complex component 5 (Mcm5) protein in urine. MCM proteins are shed into urine by both prostate and bladder tumours and are known to be excellent biomarkers of cancer - being directly involved in cell replication.

Arquer’s diagnostic test originates from work conducted by Cambridge University and Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the development and commercialization arm of Cancer Research UK, and has been improved significantly during the last couple of years by the Arquer team led by CEO, Dr. Ian Campbell and Chairman, Dr. Sandy Primrose.

The new study will involve at least 40 patients with diagnosed bladder cancer. The level of Mcm5 in their urine will be measured prior to treatment, and each time they return for follow-up over a six month period. It is hoped that the study will demonstrate the utility of the Mcm5-ELISA test both as a bladder cancer screening tool, and for the detection of bladder cancer in patients previously diagnosed and treated for the condition.

Dr Ian Campbell, CEO, Arquer Diagnostics, commented: “We are committed to improving outcomes for bladder and prostate cancer patients. At present, over 150,000 cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in Europe annually, and this number is increasing. The health economic benefits of our Mcm5-ELISA test would enable accurate, non-invasive close monitoring of the disease at low cost.”

Dr Tim Dudderidge, Principal Investigator, commented: “There is currently an unmet need for a test that would allow for more screening and enable earlier detection of bladder cancer. The Mcm5-ELISA test has the potential to provide patients with a simple and non-invasive solution for screening, and for the detection of recurrence.”