Exploring New Technologies, Developments, and Trends in the Cancer Early Screening Industry: Unlocking Opportunities in a Billion-Dollar Blue Ocean Market

On the afternoon of April 18, 2021, the Tumor Early Screening Forum of the 5th Future Healthcare 100 Conference, hosted by VCBeat, VB100, and Eggshell Research Institute, and co-organized by Zaoshai.com, explored topics such as leveraging scientific research translation to effectively commercialize products, utilizing technology to empower precision diagnosis and treatment, and building a closed-loop internet-based diagnostic ecosystem. The forum invited renowned industry experts to jointly explore new technologies, developments, and trends in the tumor early screening sector, discussing new opportunities in this billion-dollar blue-ocean market. The forum also released the "2021 Tumor Early Screening Industry Report," edited by Eggshell Research Institute.

Chen Zanquan, CEO of Zaoshai.com, served as the forum moderator. The distinguished guests included Zhou Quan, Managing Director at Legend Capital; Zhu Shida, Director of the R&D Center and General Manager of the Oncology Business Unit at BGI Genomics; Wang Shiwei, Researcher at VCBeat Institute; Zhou Jun, CEO of Huirui Gene (Genetron Health); Zhang Lianglu, Founder and General Manager of Aimsen; Chen Gang, Chairman and CEO of Kanglu Bio; Yi Xin, Chairman and General Manager of Langkai Medical; Yan Linghua, CEO of Tumor Gene (Tongshu Gene); Shen Qin, Partner at Shengyu Investment; and Jiang Tang, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Dian Diagnostics.

Zhou Quan, Managing Director at Legend Capital

Zhou Quan, Managing Director at Legend Capital, stated in his speech that there is currently a global shortage of products for cancer screening and early diagnosis. The market for early cancer screening is vast and characterized by a product gap, representing the largest potential application market for genetic testing. The value of early cancer screening lies in the significant benefits it can bring to cancer patients in China. Currently, the clinical development of early cancer screening is moving in two directions: blood-based early screening using liquid biopsy (exemplified by Huirui) and non-blood-based early screening with home-sampling capabilities (exemplified by New Horizon Health).

Zhu Shida, Director of the R&D Center and General Manager of the Oncology Business Unit at BGI Genomics

Zhu Shida, Director of the R&D Center and General Manager of the Oncology Business Unit at BGI Genomics, stated in his speech that, from a technological R&D perspective, early screening and early diagnosis represent one of the most critical directions for the future of healthcare. Existing screening methods have limitations, whereas molecular early screening offers advantages such as high sensitivity and specificity, non-invasiveness, convenience, high patient compliance, and independence from medical resource availability or physician expertise. Multi-omics testing is therefore considered the ideal ultimate solution for cancer early screening. In terms of product implementation, providing tiered comprehensive solutions tailored to different consumer groups is essential to better address cancer prevention and control, thereby achieving universal accessibility.

Wang Shiwei, Researcher at VCBeat

In her speech, Wang Shiwei, a researcher at VCBeat Institute, stated that companies in the early cancer screening industry must address demand-side requirements for “funnel-style” volume scaling, while leveraging a supply side characterized by favorable tailwinds, technological vitality, and a broad market. She further noted that practical competitive strategies are anchored by the cost-effectiveness of biomarker- and technology platform-based early cancer screening, alongside emerging trends in multi-omics and low-throughput early cancer screening technologies. Finally, she released the *2021 Early Cancer Screening Industry Report*, edited by VCBeat Institute.

Zhou Jun, CEO of Herui Genetics

Zhou Jun, CEO of He Rui Gene, mentioned in his speech that cancer has become the most critical health issue in China, and early detection can lead to more effective solutions. In the new era of early cancer screening driven by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, data and algorithms have become core elements of the industry. Early cancer screening in this new era must center on algorithms and be driven by data to achieve self-iteration.

Zhang Lianglu, Founder and General Manager of Amyson

Zhang Lianglu, Founder and General Manager of Aimisen, highlighted in his speech that the current incidence of cancer in China is exceptionally severe, making early screening and diagnosis critical to tumor treatment. There are three major technical challenges in early cancer screening: identifying biomarkers, improving detection sensitivity, and determining tissue origin. DNA methylation detection is the most important technological approach for early cancer screening, with its discovery dating back to the 1980s. The characteristics of methylation include association, ubiquity, stability, linkage, tissue specificity, heritability, and reversibility.

Chen Gang, Chairman and CEO of Kanglu Biology

Chen Gang, Chairman and CEO of Kanglu Biology, mentioned in his speech that in 2020, bladder cancer ranked seventh among newly diagnosed cases in Chinese men, with 70,000 new cases. Therefore, early screening and prognostic diagnosis of bladder cancer are urgent issues that need to be addressed. Bladder cancer FISH testing has a high clinical concordance rate, high sensitivity, and high detection rate. It can also differentiate atypical cytological morphology, and its test results can serve as an independent adverse prognostic factor. Bladder cancer FISH testing detects recurrence earlier than cystoscopy, and FISH-positive patients have a higher recurrence rate.

Yi Xin, Chairman and General Manager of Suzhou Longopen Medical, stated in his speech that lung cancer currently ranks first among all malignant tumors in both incidence and mortality. The electromagnetic navigation system enables rapid, precise localization and accurate diagnosis and treatment of early-stage peripheral solitary pulmonary nodules, offering technical advantages such as broad applicability, short procedure time, safety, and being radiation-free.

Yan Linghua, CEO of Tushu Gene

Yan Linghua, CEO of Tree Genetics, mentioned in his speech that early screening has been included in the "Outline of the Healthy China 2030 Planning," and practitioners should study it carefully. Early screening companies should improve the maturity of early screening technologies and sample acquisition capabilities, focus on detection accuracy, establish the relationship between DNA mutations and tumors, and address patients' anxiety issues.

Shen Qin, Partner at Shengyu Investment; Zhu Shida, Commander-in-Chief of BGI’s “Fire Eye Laboratory” in China, Director of BGI’s R&D Center, and Head of the Oncology Business Unit; Jiang Tang, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Dian Diagnostics; Zhu Ruixin, Vice President of Bioinformatics at Rendong Medicine Group; Yan Linghua, CEO of Toso Gene

Shen Qin, Partner at Shengyu Investment; Zhu Shida, Commander of BGI’s “Fire Eye Laboratory” in China and Director of BGI’s R&D Center as well as Head of its Oncology Division; Jiang Tang, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Dian Diagnostics; Zhu Ruixin, Vice President of Bioinformatics at Rendong Medical Group; and Yan Linghua, CEO of TreeGene, discussed new opportunities and challenges in the blue-ocean market for early cancer screening.

The discussion primarily covers five aspects: 1. Why is cancer early screening, which is not a new concept, garnering significant attention today? 2. What will be the market size for cancer early screening in China over the next five years? 3. Early screening products, their usage scenarios, and promotion strategies. 4. How to navigate the path toward regulatory compliance for early screening products? 5. Current status and perspectives on consumer-facing (C-end) tumor early screening.