NeoGenomics Announces Expansion of Its Liquid Biopsy Testing Menu

NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEO) has announced the addition of the NeoLAB^™ Solid Tumor Monitor and a NeoLAB^™ BTK Inhibitor Acquired Resistance test to its liquid biopsy testing menu.
According to the press release:

Each of the new tests uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from peripheral blood plasma without the need for tissue biopsies.
The NeoLAB^™ Solid Tumor Monitor is designed to quantify and track genomic abnormalities in tumors using cfDNA.  It is offered to help the treating physician monitor cancer patients to evaluate response to therapy.  Information from the liquid biopsy test can also be used to capture the heterogeneity in the cancer, monitor the emergence of new resistant clones, and predict relapse.  Because this liquid biopsy test may not be appropriate for some patients with early disease, NeoLAB^™ Solid Tumor Monitor testing is restricted to patients with documented metastatic cancer who carry specific molecular abnormalities that were confirmed at NeoGenomics by tissue biopsy testing.  Testing of cfDNA in this subgroup of patients is performed using next generation sequencing (NGS) along with a propriety high-sensitivity procedure, which significantly increases NGS sequencing sensitivity.
The NeoLAB^™ BTK Inhibitor Acquired Resistance test is designed to predict resistance to Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors using highly-sensitive proprietary technology developed at NeoGenomics.  Resistance to BTK inhibitors is associated with mutations in the BTK and PLCG2 genes.  This new test is capable of detecting mutations in these two genes prior to tissue or cell-based testing.  The test can be used to monitor patients treated with BTK inhibitors, especially in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL).  Using this methodology, mutations in BTK and PLCG2 can be detected approximately 2 to 12 months prior to the appearance of overt clinical resistance to therapy.  Early detection of potential resistance may alert the treating physician to develop a new strategy for therapy or for a combination of therapies that may overcome resistance.   The work and data confirming the clinical validity of this important test was selected for oral presentation at the December 2015 American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Click here to read the full press release.