Colorectal cancer (CRC) is caused by alterations in genes that regulate tissue growth and the risk of developing CRC is influenced by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Although CRC is often preventable by removing precursor lesions, screening efforts have been hampered by low participation rates and by performance limitations of the screening tools themselves. DNA screening of molecular markers in feces has significantly increased performance in detecting CRC, but still more than half of the precancerous lesions cannot be detected. The BioBarPro project aims to address this gap by advancing technology for including a completely new type of biomarker, those formed earlier than genetic mutations in the process of carcinogenesis. Such biomarkers are DNA adducts and lead to mutations. ERC-funded research lead to the development of a novel nano-probe technology for detecting DNA adducts. Scientific research accomplishments of the BioBarPro project included creating a platform for the use of the novel technology that provides a more sensitive signal by means of a pre-detection sample enrichment strategy, and to demonstrate its use in a human cancer gene context and in DNA derived from human cells. The BioBarPro team participated in the Start-up Campus program of the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation where it garnered the Zurich Start Award for the most Innovative Business Concept Idea in 2016. The team obtained professional assistance in evaluating the market and licensing possibilities, and consulted extensively with clinicians concerning acceptance of the product. The envisioned business strategy was to initiate a start-up and a PCT application was filed. At the point of national phase entry, however, it was decided that for the concept to advance, in light of sensitivity bench-marks and acceptance by clinicians, further steps should be taken to expand from the single-marker oriented approach originally envisioned, to include simultaneous monitoring of additional biologically relevant lesions.
