Intervenn’s noninvasive ovarian cancer test to hit market this fall
GlycoKnow uses blood sample to distinguish cancer from benign mass
A noninvasive diagnostic test to help distinguish ovarian cancer from benign pelvic masses will be available this fall.
GlycoKnow Ovarian received a proprietary laboratory analysis (PLA) code — an American Medical Association identifier clinicians and insurance providers use for billing and reimbursement — that will be effective at the beginning of October, developer Intervenn Biosciences said.
“The PLA code for GlycoKnow Ovarian marks a significant milestone, making this proprietary, advanced diagnostic more readily available to the women who need it most,” Andrew Quong, PhD, CEO of Intervenn, said in a company press release.
The test “provides a more precise, non-invasive triage tool to help clinicians make better-informed decisions when a pelvic mass is discovered, ultimately improving the diagnostic pathway for women,” Quong said.
Ovarian cancer is a form of gynecological cancer that develops deep within the pelvis. When there’s a mass around the ovaries, it’s crucial to distinguish whether it is cancerous or not, as early ovaraian cancer treatment can help improve the chances of a good outcome. However, biopsies to collect a sample of the mass can be invasive, often requiring surgery.
‘A real step forward’
David Crotzer, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center and clinical assistant professor at Creighton University, noted that up to 80% of abdominal masses are benign (noncancerous). “It’s crucial for us to know which women are likely to have ovarian cancer and which are not,” Crotzer said.
The GlycoKnow Ovarian test is designed to help identify ovarian cancer based on an analysis of a blood sample, with the aim of minimizing the need for invasive biopsy collection.
“Having this non-invasive test more readily available and accessible gives us greater confidence when making care plan decisions,” Crotzer said. “It will also help ensure that women with cancer get the care they need right away, while those with benign masses can avoid unnecessary surgeries and treatments. It’s a real step forward for patients, providers, and the entire medical system.”
The test analyzes markers of glycosylation, a biochemical process in which sugar molecules (glycans) are attached to proteins, affecting how they fold, function, and interact with other molecules. These sugar-protein structures can act like molecular tags on the cell surfaces, helping cells communicate and respond to their environment. Intervenn’s platform uses AI-based analyses of glycosylation patterns to identify biomarkers associated with specific diseases.
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