DGX's Haystack Oncology Teams Up With Rutgers Cancer Institute

Core Insights - Quest Diagnostics (DGX) has partnered with Haystack Oncology and Rutgers Cancer Institute to evaluate the Haystack MRD test for optimizing postoperative therapy in stage II/III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients [1][3][9] Company Developments - Haystack MRD is a lab-developed test (LDT) validated in a CLIA-certified laboratory and is commercially available through Quest Diagnostics [2][9] - The MRD-PORT Trial (NCT06979661) is a prospective phase II study assessing the use of Haystack MRD to guide postoperative radiation and systemic therapies based on residual tumor DNA presence [3][4] - In addition to the lung cancer study, a previous collaboration in 2023 focused on using Haystack MRD for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer treatment [3] Industry Prospects - The global minimal residual disease (MRD) market was valued at $2.50 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% through 2030, driven by rising cancer incidence, technological advancements, and integration with personalized medicine [6] - The FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation to Haystack MRD for identifying MRD-positive patients with stage II colorectal cancer, indicating its potential in guiding adjuvant therapy [5] Other Developments in the Industry - Quest Diagnostics has introduced an advanced pharmacogenomic (PGx) laboratory test service to help providers understand patients' genetic responses to drug therapies, aiming to prevent therapeutic failures and adverse drug interactions [7] - Competitors like QIAGEN and Exact Sciences are also advancing in the molecular diagnostics space, with QIAGEN achieving CE-IVDR certification for its testing systems and Exact Sciences launching a multi-cancer early detection blood test [8][11]