Quest Diagnostics has announced a new multi-year research collaboration with City of Hope to evaluate its Haystack MRD circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay in patients with solid tumor cancers, including breast, colorectal, ovarian, and prostate malignancies.
The study will enroll approximately 500 patients across 14 City of Hope sites in the US, generating thousands of longitudinal measurements. Participating locations span major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, Phoenix, and Atlanta.
The Haystack MRD test is designed to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) through liquid biopsy, with the goal of identifying traces of cancer that remain after treatment and may lead to recurrence.
Evaluating MRD across the treatment continuum
According to the announcement, the clinical trials will assess the test’s utility across multiple stages of patient management, including neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment settings, as well as post-treatment surveillance.
Researchers aim to determine whether the assay can detect MRD, monitor treatment response, and identify recurrence earlier than standard imaging approaches.
"City of Hope brings together the scientific expertise, clinical infrastructure, and advanced technology needed to evaluate emerging approaches that can meaningfully improve cancer care and health outcomes for patients," said Cristian Tomasetti, PhD, professor and director, Center for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Monitoring, City of Hope.
"We see liquid biopsy as an important frontier in oncology and aim to leverage the most accurate and effective commercially available ctDNA assays while also working to develop effective early detection platforms. We are excited to study how Haystack MRD might inform treatment decisions across several solid tumor types," Tomasetti added.
ctDNA for disease monitoring
The collaboration also reflects growing interest in ctDNA-based assays as tools for more precise disease monitoring and personalized treatment strategies.
"New blood test technologies can make a significant difference for a patient. For example, they may help determine that a surgery was able to fully remove the cancer, thereby sparing chemotherapy treatment," said Tomasetti.
Quest Diagnostics emphasized the potential clinical impact of earlier and more sensitive detection of residual disease.
"Haystack MRD is designed to help clinicians and their patients act earlier with greater confidence, based on the principle that cancer survivors and their care teams should be able to make proactive, not reactive, healthcare decisions," said Dan Edelstein, vice president and general manager of Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics company.
The companies expect the collaboration to generate evidence supporting the role of ctDNA testing in informing patient management across multiple solid tumor settings.
Note: This news summary was generated by AI based on a published press release, followed by a review from human editors.
