ArcherDX expanded its Archer FusionPlex assay menu to include the FusionPlex Lung Thyroid Panel and FusionPlex Solid Tumor Panel.

The two panels are targeted next generation sequencing (NGS)-based assays that can be used to detect gene translocations in clinical samples types.

The Lung Thyroid Panel simultaneously detects and characterizes fusions of 8 genes associated with NSCLC and thyroid cancer. The Solid Tumor Panel is the company’s largest catalog gene panel to date, detecting and identifying fusions and other mutations associated with over 50 different genes linked to carcinomas and solid tumors.

The FusionPlex Solid Tumor Panel rounds out the company’s tumor fusion offering, complementing existing Heme and Sarcoma fusion panels to provide pan-cancer coverage of gene translocations.

Both panels enable detection of fusions associated with the genes in the panel in a single sequencing assay, even without prior knowledge of fusion partners or breakpoints.

"With the launch of these two assays, Archer has established itself as the clear leader in NGS-based fusion detection. With the FusionPlex Lung Thyroid Panel, we now offer robust fusion detection for the cancer with the highest mortality rate as well as the one with the highest growing incidence rate," says Jeff Mitchell, Product Manager at ArcherDX.

The Archer FusionPlex Assays generate target-enriched cDNA libraries for NGS-based gene fusion detection. The system leverages Anchored Multiplex PCR (AMP) to selectively amplify cDNAs of specific genes of interest in a sample along with any fusion partners, known or unknown.

The FusionPlex system uses random start sites to improve sequence data quality and novel enrichment chemistry to yield a high on-target percentage.

FusionPlex assays are part of Archer’s targeted NGS mutation detection workflow that includes library preparation, analysis and reporting. Archer assays use a simple lyophilized workflow optimized to minimize hands-on time and risk of contamination in library preparation, making them ideal for high-volume laboratories.

The AMP-enabled FusionPlex panels are target enrichment assays used to create libraries for Illumina or Ion Torrent sequencing from small amounts (5-200 ng) of nucleic acid extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) clinical samples. Once sequenced, the Archer Analysis software provides comprehensive analysis with embedded QC metrics and read visualization to accurately detect and identify known and novel fusions, SNPs, indels and CNVs.