Early diagnosis and real-time monitoring are essential to improving cancer treatment outcomes. However, conventional tumor markers often lack the sensitivity and timeliness needed for effective clinical decision-making. To address this unmet need, EG BioMed, in collaboration with Taipei Medical University, conducted a series of cfDNA methylation-based blood tests targeting three major cancers—pancreatic, breast, and colorectal. These findings were presented at AACR 2025 and highlight the potential of this approach for non-invasive detection, disease monitoring, and personalized care.

Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer: Unlocking the Power of ZFP30 and ZNF781 Methylation Markers

Gaps and Limitations in Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early, with most cases diagnosed at an advanced stage. Common tumor markers like CA19-9 and CEA often lack the sensitivity and specificity needed to guide timely treatment decisions.

Professor Ruo-Kai Lin of Taipei Medical University, who currently serves as Chief of Research and Product Development at EG BioMed, presented this research at AACR 2025.

Research Advances

In collaboration with Taipei Medical University, EG BioMed analyzed cfDNA methylation of the ZFP30 and ZNF781 genes. Preliminary results revealed abnormal hypermethylation of both genes in pancreatic cancer patients, detectable through blood samples. This study was presented at the 2025 annual meetings of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) by Dr. Ruo-Kai Lin, a professor at Taipei Medical University and Chief of R&D at EG BioMed. Expanded validation is currently underway to evaluate its potential as a non-invasive tool for early detection.

The EG-Pancreatic blood test-E1 demonstrated outstanding diagnostic performance in detecting pancreatic cancer, particularly among early-stage patients. Validation across both Asian and Western cohorts confirmed that methylation detection of ZFP30 and ZNF781 offers a safe, accurate, and feasible non-invasive approach for early pancreatic cancer screening. This method improves clinical diagnostic efficiency and supports early intervention and personalized care planning for high-risk individuals, helping patients detect disease earlier and improve prognosis.

Early Warning for Breast Cancer Metastasis: Molecular Clues from

Limitations of Traditional Tests and New Possibilities

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, accounting for over one-third of new female cancer cases. Despite advances in treatment, around 20% of early-stage patients still experience metastasis. Traditional markers like CA15-3 and CEA lack sensitivity and fail to reflect real-time changes, highlighting the clinical need for more responsive and trackable diagnostic tools.

Dr. Chin-Sheng Hung, Chief Medical Officer of EG BioMed, Director of the Department of Surgery at Taipei Medical University Hospital, and a renowned breast surgeon, presented this study at the AACR 2025 annual meeting.

Research Advances

EG BioMed has collaborated with Taipei Medical University Hospital and the Breast Center of Shuang Ho Hospital for over eight years on long-term follow-up research. EG BioMed developed a methylation-based assay targeting the genes GCM2 and TMEM240 to monitor breast cancer progression and treatment response. In validation, the assay achieved an AUC of 0.930, with 89.4% sensitivity, 95.6% specificity, and an overall accuracy of 91.5%. Compared to conventional biomarkers such as CA15-3 and CEA, this method demonstrated superior detection performance and clinical responsiveness, with consistent results across diverse populations.

This study demonstrates that methylation changes in GCM2 and TMEM240 reliably reflect breast cancer progression and treatment response, enabling faster and more accurate clinical decisions. As a non-invasive blood test, it can be used before, during, and after treatment to complement existing tumor markers and support real-time monitoring and personalized care. EG BioMed is committed to advancing this technology to benefit breast cancer patients worldwide.

Enhancing Prognostic Precision: The Role of TMEM240 Methylation in Colorectal Cancer

Limitations of Current Testing Methods

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Traditional blood-based markers like CEA and CA19-9 often lack the sensitivity and timeliness needed to detect early disease progression or treatment response. There is a clear unmet need for more accurate, responsive biomarkers to support clinical decision-making.

Dr. Yao-Yu Hsieh, Director of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Shuang Ho Hospital and a key research collaborator, presented this study at the AACR 2025 annual meeting.

Research Advances

EG BioMed is conducting long-term follow-up research in collaboration with the gastrointestinal cancer care teams at Taipei Medical University Hospital and Shuang Ho Hospital. EG BioMed identified TMEM240 hypermethylation as a robust blood-based marker using cfDNA from both Taiwanese and Western CRC patients. TMEM240 methylation was detectable in plasma 1–3 months before radiologic progression and significantly correlated with poor prognosis in advanced cases.

TMEM240 hypermethylation in plasma is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for colorectal cancer. With 94.4% sensitivity and 97.7% accuracy, it enables earlier and more accurate detection of cancer progression—often 1–3 months before imaging or elevations in CEA and CA19-9. Compared to traditional markers, TMEM240 offers real-time insights into tumor dynamics, supporting personalized treatment decisions and improving clinical care.