In the 1940s, about 1 in 16 people were diagnosed with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. By the 1970s, it was 1 in 10.
Today, roughly 2 in 5 of us will hear a cancer diagnosis at some point in our lives.
The odds are moving in the wrong direction. But one factor that shapes how the story ends is still largely in our control: timing.
Catching cancer early changes the outlook dramatically.
According to Worldwide Cancer Research, Stage 1 cancers often have cure rates above 90%. By Stage 4, the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. Treatment then usually shifts from curing the disease to controlling it and preserving quality of life.
Precision Epigenomics was built to close the gap between those two outcomes. Its answer is EPISEEK, a multicancer early detection test that uses a simple blood draw to look for DNA methylation changes linked to more than 70 types of cancer.
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Precision Epigenomics has developed EPISEEK, a multicancer early detection test that uses a simple blood draw to look for DNA methylation changes linked to more than 70 types of cancer.
From the lab to the market
The translational science comes from Dr. Mark Nelson, the company’s co-founder, president and CEO. Nelson is a professor at the University of Arizona. He has more than 30 years of experience in cancer biology, genomics, molecular biology and translational science.
In collaboration with Dr. Bernard Futscher, Dr. Nelson helped develop the technology behind EPISEEK at the university. He then turned to Tech Launch Arizona to find out whether it could succeed outside the lab. That process included two years in the University of Arizona Center for Innovation.
The answer was yes. Precision Epigenomics soft-launched in 2022 and officially launched in 2024. Its next challenge is scale, and the plan is to reach it through clinical labs.
A scrappy, doctor-driven team
The company has its roots in pathology and is still driven by physicians. Its mission is to transform how cancer is detected. It remains small, with 22 employees, and Dr. Nelson calls them a “scrappy bunch.”
Built to be easy
The test is available to most adults. The exceptions are people under 21, pregnant patients, and anyone who already has cancer.
Taking the test is simple. Patients use an easy blood collection kit. The company will also send someone to the patient’s home, either to help with the draw or just to pick up the sample. Precision Epigenomics works with AZOVA, a network of doctors focused on root-cause medicine, and it offers pathology consultations. Its website has detailed information and a place to ask questions.
Standing out in a small field
Dr. Nelson expects tests like EPISEEK to become standard medical practice within four to five years. Only two or three competing tests are on the market today.
So why EPISEEK? Dr. Nelson points to four differences:
— Broader detection: EPISEEK can detect more than 70 cancer types, including brain cancers.
— Better early performance: It offers nearly twice the sensitivity for early Stage I and II disease.
— Faster results: Results come back in one week, compared with two to three weeks for competitors.
— Lower cost: It is priced significantly below competing options.
The earlier you know
Precision Epigenomics is the latest example of a University of Arizona idea making the leap to the marketplace. Tech Launch Arizona’s mission is to help bring inventions forward for a better world, and EPISEEK fits that mission precisely.
Cancer is becoming more common. But on many fronts, we are winning, especially when the disease is caught early. EPISEEK arrives at the right moment, and its premise is simple: the earlier you know, the better your odds.
