- In December 2024, Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) demonstrated significantly higher rates of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity compared to standard therapies in the CARTITUDE-4 study. This advancement shows promising potential in the treatment of multiple myeloma, providing patients with a more effective option to manage the disease. By targeting MRD negativity, it aims to increase the chances of longer-term remission, potentially offering patients improved survival rates and enhanced quality of life. This new development marks a significant step forward in cancer treatment by improving long-term disease control
- In January 2024, Tempus introduced the xM MRD assay, a novel test designed to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for research purposes. This liquid biopsy approach detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood, even without baseline tumor tissue. It offers a more sensitive method for detecting early-stage CRC recurrence, with high clinical specificity (94%) and sensitivity (53%) after surgery. This advancement could help identify patients at risk of recurrence, potentially enabling earlier intervention with more targeted therapies. The assay is expected to improve over time through further clinical validation
- In February 2022, Personalis announced a collaboration with UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center to develop advanced minimal residual disease detection tools. The partnership aims to utilize Personalis' proprietary genomic technologies and UC San Diego's cancer expertise to enhance early detection and monitoring of cancer recurrence. By integrating cutting-edge sequencing and bioinformatics, the collaboration will work on creating more accurate, non-invasive tests for minimal residual disease, benefiting cancer patients through earlier interventions, better treatment plans, and improved long-term outcomes. This collaboration underscores the potential of precision medicine in the fight against cancer
- In February 2022, Invitae launched a study to generate real-world data for its personalized minimal residual disease (MRD) test across various tumor types. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of Invitae's MRD test in detecting residual cancer cells after treatment in patients with different cancers. By collecting data from diverse patient populations, the company intends to refine its testing methods and further enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of MRD detection. This initiative will benefit clinicians by providing more personalized and reliable monitoring tools to manage cancer recurrence, leading to improved patient outcomes
