Study backs Rhythm's colorectal risk model

The Australian

a day ago

Rhythm publishes peer-reviewed study validating its next-generation colorectal cancer risk assessment model
Proprietary geneType assessment enhanced and cross-validated using data from nearly 400,000 individuals in UK Biobank
Next generation geneType design continues focus on usability and simplicity, while providing superior performance
Special Report: Rhythm Biosciences has published a peer-reviewed study in PLoS One validating its next-generation colorectal cancer risk assessment model, marking a major step forward in predictive cancer diagnostics.
Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) said the study detailed updates and improvements to its proprietary geneType colorectal cancer risk assessment, which was enhanced and cross-validated using data from nearly 400,000 individuals in the UK Biobank.
Rhythm said the article titled 'Colorectal cancer risk prediction using a simple multivariable model' described creation and validation of a new risk model that incorporated sex-specific factors and outperformed current models.
The company said as colorectal cancer was a disease associated with many environmental and lifestyle risk factors, the study focused on expanding its geneType model beyond the two primary risk factors – family history and polygenic risk.
Watch: Inside ColoSTAT's road to market
Key findings of study
Rhythm said the study delivered several key findings, most notably development of the enhanced risk model that incorporated three additional risk factors.
These factors were selected for their strong associations with colorectal cancer and ease of use in a clinical setting, improving the model's predictive performance over standard family history assessments.
The company said the most impactful risk factors were identified and integrated into an updated geneType risk model, which was then tested using data from the UK Biobank.
Rhythm said other key findings included:
Commitment to improvement – The study highlighted the importance of including clinical and lifestyle factors in multifactorial diseases like colorectal cancer.
Commercial application – The new model was designed with commercial clinical applications in mind, minimising the number of risk factors while maximising predictive accuracy.
Sex-specific factors – Incorporating sex-specific risk factors enhances model performance across diverse populations.
Superior performance – A multivariable risk assessment is shown to be superior to standard of care of family history assessment in its ability to predict risk of developing colorectal cancer.
'Significantly improve stratified screening'
Rhythm director of scientific affairs Dr Erika Spaeth said publishing the findings in PLoS One underscored its commitment to advancing cancer risk prediction.
'Our new multifactorial model outperforms previous methods based solely on polygenic risk and family history,' she said.
'By integrating clinical and lifestyle factors, we enhance our prediction accuracy for colorectal cancer.
'We're excited about these results and confident that this model will significantly improve stratified screening in the population."
This article was developed in collaboration with Rhythm Biosciences, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.