MAPLE enables ultrasensitive detection of low-frequency cfDNA methylation haplotypes using short capture probes with cost-efficient performance.
A low-cost blood test detects early-stage colorectal cancer with 80% sensitivity through novel DNA methylation patterns, making population screening economically feasible.
MAPLE is a novel cfDNA enrichment technology using rationally designed short capture probes that selectively captures low-frequency cancer-specific methylation haplotypes, dramatically reducing sequencing cost while achieving 95% specificity and 80% sensitivity for early-stage (I-II) colorectal cancer detection. The approach includes a first-of-its-kind Enrichment Factor Model for correcting observed haplotype fractions, enabling accurate LOD estimation and making it suitable for cost-effective population screening.
What the study was
- Study design
- Prospective technology development study with retrospective validation cohort (plasma cfDNA, n=162 samples including CRC patients and controls, 24 stage I-II cancers)
- Population
- Colorectal cancer patients and controls; 162-sample validation cohort including 24 stage I-II CRC samples
- Sample size
- 162
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- Genome Research
Why it surfaced
Score 7 but priority_flag EARLY_CANCER_DETECTION elevates to HIGH per pipeline rules. Novel cfDNA enrichment methodology (MAPLE) addresses a key cost barrier in liquid biopsy CRC screening — 28x more efficient read mapping than conventional methods. 95% specificity and 80% sensitivity at stage I-II are strong performance metrics. Validation cohort is small (n=162) — needs prospective external validation.
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