Personalis Announces New Publication Expanding Evidence for Ultrasensitive ctDNA Monitoring of Cancer Immunotherapy Response Across Solid Tumors

Core Insights - Personalis, Inc. has published a study demonstrating the effectiveness of its NeXT Personal® assay in monitoring immunotherapy responses in advanced cancers [1][2] Group 1: Study Findings - The study, led by UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, highlights the ability of NeXT Personal to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) at ultrasensitive levels, allowing for earlier clinical interventions [3][4] - The interim analysis included 39 patients with advanced solid tumors across nine cancer types, treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors [4] - The NeXT Personal test tracks up to approximately 1,800 tumor-specific variants unique to each patient's tumor, enhancing its sensitivity [3] Group 2: Clinical Implications - Early identification of therapy response was observed, with molecular response detectable a median of 23 days after starting immunotherapy, leading to significantly longer progression-free survival for patients with early responses [7] - NeXT Personal identified molecular progression a median of 161 days before imaging in patients whose disease progressed, showcasing its potential as a predictive tool [7] - The study found that 33% of positive ctDNA detections occurred in the ultrasensitive range (below 100 PPM), which could be missed by less sensitive tests [7] Group 3: Overall Impact - Patients achieving molecular complete response (ctDNA clearance) had seven times higher overall survival compared to those who did not achieve clearance, indicating the assay's strong correlation with patient outcomes [7] - The findings reinforce the need for better tools to evaluate patient responses to immunotherapy, positioning NeXT Personal as a critical component in cancer treatment management [4]