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MRD Blood Tests Spot TNBC Recurrence Early
2 Jun
Summary
- MRD testing shows value in predicting distant recurrences in TNBC patients.
- Blood samples analyzed for ctDNA during and post-chemotherapy showed promising results.
- Post-operative ctDNA detection is highly prognostic for distant recurrence in TNBC.
Abbott presented new prospective sub-study analysis data at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. This data underscores the significance of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in identifying distant recurrences among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
The sub-study, part of the PARTNER trial, utilized two tumour-informed MRD assays to evaluate blood samples for circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) both during and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These assays employed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technologies.
Abbott's findings indicated that detecting ctDNA post-operatively using a WES MRD assay was highly predictive of distant recurrence in TNBC patients. Furthermore, WGS demonstrated improved baseline ctDNA detection rates. These advancements in MRD testing are poised to enhance early risk identification and personalized insights in cancer treatment.
Dr. Rick Baehner of Abbott stated that these next-generation MRD tests have the potential to identify recurrence risk earlier and offer more personalized insights. He emphasized the broader goal of shifting cancer care towards earlier detection, intervention, and management throughout a patient's journey, aligning with advances in multi-cancer early detection.
