AI-based medical technology company Tempus is expanding its comprehensive genomic profiling offering with a new non-invasive, liquid biopsy panel of 523 genes, dubbed xF+.
Designed to focus on pathogenic mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA), the new liquid biopsy panel xF+ is said to be the largest liquid biopsy panel available on the market.
It covers more genes with single nucleotide variants and indels reported in all genes, expands coverage of translocations or gene rearrangements, and copy number variants.
The new panel can also measure blood-based tumour mutational burden (bTMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI), predictive biomarkers for various cancer immunotherapies.
Tempus intends to roll out xF+ along with its 105-gene liquid biopsy assay xF on a limited basis, with plans for a wider launch later this year.
Tempus translational medicine vice president Nike Beaubier said: “xF+ further strengthens Tempus’ range of genomic profiling capabilities, offering physicians a broad-panel liquid biopsy option for patients in which a comprehensive, non-invasive test is appropriate.
“We are excited to introduce what we believe is the largest clinically available liquid biopsy panel to provide even more insights on pathogenic mutations in cfDNA.”
According to the company, liquid biopsies are useful for parallel testing with tumour tissue to ensure a comprehensive detection of actionable alterations compared to tissue or liquid biopsy testing alone.
In addition, follow-up liquid biopsy testing can reveal new gene alterations and resistance mechanisms, sample tumour DNA shed from metastatic sites and can be used to monitor disease burden and response to treatment.
Tempus said that xF+ is the latest addition to its library of assays, including xF, xT, xG, xG+, and xE.
Its xT assay is capable of analysing 648 genes in solid tumour and hematologic malignancies, while xG can analyse 52 genes to specifically identify genetic variants related to hereditary cancers and inherited risk of cancer.
Its xG+ is an 88-gene multi-cancer panel that covers genes linked to both common and rare hereditary cancer syndromes, and xE assay can analyse the whole exome.
All panels are run in its CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified robotic sequencing labs, said the company.
