Personalis Advances Lung Cancer Detection with NeXT Personal and Leading Research Collaboration

Personalis Partners with Leading Researchers to Advance Lung Cancer Detection

Personalis, Inc. collaborates with Professor Charles Swanton and his research team from the Francis Crick Institute and University College London to publish pivotal findings from the TRACERx lung cancer study in Nature Medicine. This study, funded by Cancer Research UK, utilizes Personalis’ NeXT Personal®, an advanced test for detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in cancer patients' blood. The trial comprises a cohort of 171 patients diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), showcasing an impressive sensitivity in ctDNA detection—100% in non-adenocarcinomas and 81% in the more challenging lung adenocarcinoma subtype.

The study reveals that ctDNA levels measured before surgery hold significant prognostic value for overall survival. Notably, early-stage lung adenocarcinoma patients who test negative for ctDNA exhibit a remarkable 100% five-year survival rate. In stark contrast, those who test positive for ctDNA are at a much greater risk of relapse. This finding is critical as it indicates that even patients with very low ctDNA levels (below 80 parts per million) have a substantial risk of recurrence, highlighting the necessity of Personalis’ ultra-sensitive testing capabilities.

Dr. Charles Swanton emphasizes the transformative potential of such diagnostic tests in personalizing cancer treatment, while Richard Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Personalis, underscores the clinical relevance of early-stage detection. The NeXT Personal assay employs whole-genome sequencing to generate a tailored blood test capable of identifying a unique signature of approximately 1,800 variants with exceptional sensitivity down to ~1 PPM of ctDNA. Given that lung cancer ranks as the second most prevalent cancer in the U.S., with an anticipated 238,340 new cases and 127,070 deaths this year alone, the implications of these findings for lung cancer management are profound. They may also bolster Medicare coverage submissions for NeXT Personal Dx, paving the way for broader access to this crucial diagnostic tool.

In summary, the collaboration between Personalis and leading cancer researchers marks a significant advancement in lung cancer diagnostics, potentially revolutionizing patient management and treatment personalization. The ability to detect ctDNA with high sensitivity not only enhances the understanding of cancer prognosis but also lays the groundwork for more effective therapeutic strategies tailored to individual patient profiles. As the field of oncology evolves, such innovations are essential for improving patient outcomes in one of the most common and deadly cancer types.