Early detection and early treatment for cancer is a known concept. Most of the current cancer screening methods are mainly cancer-specific. To conduct multiple cancers screening, multiple different tests or examinations are required. Subjects may be exposed to potential iatrogenic injuries and radiation, the entire screening process is time-consuming and costly, lacks accuracy, and relies on manual judgment.

Developed by the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, “Multiple Cancers Screening with Tumor Markers and Machine Learning Algorithms” delivers better early detection of cancers through tumor markers, machine learning, and physician interpretation based on the results of the tumor marker inspection input by physicians. It can screen for more than 8 types of cancer at the same time, making early diagnosis and early treatment possible. This technology has been exclusively transferred to 20/20 GeneSystems in the United States, with OneTest rolling out as the world’s first AI-powered cancer screening test for multiple types of cancer. The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou wins the Technology Transfer Award - Gold Medal Award in the 2020 Taipei Biotech Awards.

Led by Lu, Chih-Chang, the head of Department of Laboratory Medicine of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, the Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Information, Chang Gung University have teamed up to build predictive models for cancer screening through AI algorithms based on the tumor marker data of approximately 28,000 people accumulated in the past 15 years. For healthy people with no obvious symptoms or signs, the tumor markers are used to analyze the difference in the distribution of tumor markers between people with and without cancer, so as to accurately predict the risk of cancer diagnosis in the next year. The screening process is not exposed to radiation and is low-invasive, which relieves distress among the subjects. Based on the blood sampling data and AI-assisted analysis, the interpretation of the test results is more objective.

After receiving this transferred technology, 20/20 GeneSystems started to validate it based on more than 40,000 cases worldwide and thus developed OneTest, the first product to conduct multiple cancers screening with tumor markers and online smart software. Currently, OneTest markets in the United States, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan, with the sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 more than 18 times that in the first quarter of the same year.

In addition, Ping An Insurance Company of China, Ltd. (Ping An Insurance), the second largest insurance group in China, is one of 20/20 GeneSystems’ shareholders. In 2019, 20/20 GeneSystems competed for the Ping An Cloud Accelerator organized by Ping An Insurance and was selected as one of the 11 key start-ups and products in the fourth phase. Less than 3% of the companies around the world participating in this competition were selected.

Led by Lu, Chih-Chang, the Department of Laboratory Medicine has published many papers in recent years and paid more attention to the usability of research results. As of today, it has made 15 patent applications, two of which have been translated into “clinically available products,” including OneTest.

With a solid translation ability and experience, the Department of Laboratory Medicine is working on more clinical trials with 20/20 GeneSystems. It is expected that these clinical trial results and evidence will soon be applied to the product for optimization, increasing the clinical efficacy of OneTest in the foreseeable future.