July 2019—Natera announced plans to commercialize a research-use-only service for whole exome sequencing of circulating tumor DNA using plasma samples from patients with cancer.
The assay will interrogate approximately 20,000 genes from ctDNA to detect somatic mutations. Benefits of the plasma exome sequencing offering include the ability to design Signatera assays when tissue is not available. The assay may also allow researchers to characterize resistance mutations, actionable mutations, neoantigens, and tumor evolution. This capability will enhance Natera’s oncology database by generating data about tumor evolution, the company said in a press release.
The plasma exome service can be ordered as a standalone assay or reflexively for Signatera ctDNA-positive cases. With the combined service researchers can use Signatera to monitor patients for the presence or absence of ctDNA, and for positive patients they can reflex to a plasma exome to characterize tumor evolution using the same DNA library sample.
Natera, 844-778-4700