What's Happening?
Exact Sciences Corp., in collaboration with the NSABP Foundation and the German Breast Group, has presented new clinical study results for its Oncodetect MRD test at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
The study, part of the NSABP B-59 substudy, demonstrated that the Oncodetect test effectively predicts distant recurrence in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a challenging subtype to treat. The test's ability to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) post-surgery was strongly associated with recurrence risk, with MRD-positive patients showing a significantly higher risk of recurrence. The findings support the test's role in guiding post-surgical treatment decisions and may lead to Medicare coverage.
Why It's Important?
The Oncodetect MRD test represents a significant advancement in the management of TNBC, offering a powerful prognostic tool to identify patients at higher risk of recurrence. This can lead to more personalized treatment plans, potentially improving outcomes for patients with this aggressive cancer subtype. The study's results could influence clinical practice by integrating ctDNA testing into standard care, helping to optimize treatment strategies and reduce recurrence rates. The potential for Medicare coverage could also increase accessibility to this diagnostic tool, benefiting a broader patient population.
What's Next?
Exact Sciences plans to submit the study data to a peer-reviewed journal and to MolDx to support Medicare coverage. The company is also collaborating on a large prospective registry trial, NSABP B-64, to further evaluate the test across all breast cancer subtypes. These efforts aim to solidify the Oncodetect test's role in clinical practice and expand its use in guiding treatment decisions for breast cancer patients.
