A $6 million research collaboration to develop a next-generation clinical-grade cancer profiling test has been launched by Singapore-based precision oncology company Lucence, together with the Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub), hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, and the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS).
Called UNITED 2.0, the three-year initiative aims to advance precision diagnostics by building a more comprehensive genomic test that can help doctors match patients with targeted cancer treatments.
The test is being developed to support analysis across a range of tumour types, including breast, lung, colon and bladder cancers, as well as central nervous system tumours and lymphoma.
The collaboration builds on the original UNITED 1.0 tissue test, also known as UNITED 600, which has helped guide therapeutic selection for cancer patients across the region since 2021. It analyses tumour tissue samples for 572 genes and 71 ribonucleic acid (RNA) fusions using both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and RNA signals to identify mutations that may respond to specific therapies.
Taking a broader approach, UNITED 2.0 will use a combination of whole exome sequencing and whole transcriptome sequencing to examine a much larger portion of the cancer genome and its expressed RNA. This will enable more detailed tumour profiling, including the identification of complex mutations and fusions, helping clinicians identify genetic alterations that can be targeted with precision treatments.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools will also be used to help analyse and interpret the large volumes of genomic data generated by the test, with the goal of producing clearer and faster clinical reports.
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“UNITED 2.0 moves us from a ‘snapshot’ to a high-definition map of a patient’s cancer. By integrating AI with comprehensive DNA and RNA sequencing, we are turning massive amounts of complex data into clear, actionable answers that will help clinicians choose better treatments faster,” says Dr Tan Min-Han, founding chief executive and medical director of Lucence.
The test is being developed to support analysis across a range of tumour types, including breast, lung, colon and bladder cancers, as well as central nervous system tumours and lymphoma.
Beyond tumour profiling, the research programme also includes plans to develop tools that track a patient’s status after treatment. One area of focus is minimal residual disease testing, which seeks to detect very small traces of cancer that remain after therapy and may signal early recurrence.
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“Clinical diagnostics only create value when it performs reliably in real-world settings and fit into routine care. With UNITED 2.0, we are strengthening the end-to-end test design, from sample handling to analytical validation and clinical reporting, so that more comprehensive tumour profiling can move from advanced sequencing into dependable clinical use,” says Dr Weng Ruifen, chief executive of DxD Hub.
Assistant Professor Jason Chan, director of the Cancer Discovery Hub at the NCCS, adds: "While the earlier assay already advanced precision cancer diagnostics, this latest collaboration represents an opportunity to incorporate cutting-edge tumour sequencing technologies into the original platform, enabling even more comprehensive and in-depth tumour analysis. We hope that this will help clinicians successfully treat patients with rare cancers, or those who have exhausted standard treatment options, in the future.”
Separately, Lucence and DxD Hub have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Brain Tumour Society Singapore to bring patient perspectives into the research and development process. This aims to ensure that future diagnostic tools better reflect the needs and experiences of patients.
“A precise diagnosis is the foundation of the patient journey, but the process is often hidden from the patient. This MOU represents a formal commitment to keep the patient’s perspective at the heart of cancer research,” says Melissa Lim, president of the Brain Tumour Society Singapore.
