SAN JOSE, Calif. — Takara Bio USA, Inc. on April 20 announced results from a benchmark study evaluating its Trekker FX technology against conventional spatial transcriptomics methods, using tissue samples from human lung squamous cell carcinoma.
The study, conducted on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, marks the first in a planned series aimed at validating the performance of Trekker FX compared with existing spatial technologies. The company said it will present the findings at the American Association for Cancer Research conference this week in San Diego.
“This benchmark study demonstrates that Trekker FX enables higher resolution, easier scalability, and deeper unbiased spatial characterization and insights than other methods,” said Andrew Farmer, PhD, chief scientific officer of Takara Bio USA. “By combining true single-cell spatial mapping with broad molecular detection, the Trekker approach represents an entirely new class of spatial technology that complements existing single-cell sequencing workflows and expands what researchers can reveal in a cell’s native tissue environment.”
According to the company, Trekker FX showed improved whole-transcriptome detection through a donation-based spatial tagging approach designed to maintain single-cell next-generation sequencing sensitivity. The technology identified key cell subpopulations relevant to tumor biology, including regulatory T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and lymphatic endothelial cells.
The study also found that Trekker FX detected three times more statistically significant ligand-receptor interactions, offering deeper insight into how cells communicate within the tumor microenvironment.
The research was carried out by the Takara Bio Genome Analysis Center in Japan. The company said the benchmarking effort is part of a broader initiative to validate the platform’s capabilities across multiple studies.
Takara Bio USA said the technology is now being evaluated by independent researchers, signaling growing external interest and validation beyond internal testing.
