Tempus has launched a clinical trial of its minimal residual disease (MRD) test portfolio, including the xM test and the NeXT Personal® Dx test. These tests aim to identify residual illness or early signs of cancer recurrence and monitor the response to immunotherapy.

The portfolio features a tumor-naïve test, xM, that can detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients' blood following curative surgery for early-stage colorectal cancer. The tumor-informed test, NeXT Personal Dx, which is co-commercialized with Personalis, employs whole-genome sequencing to detect minute traces of ctDNA in the blood of patients after curative treatments for early non-small-cell lung cancer and breast cancer and can be used for immunotherapy monitoring in late-stage cancers. This assay can identify up to 1,800 somatic mutations unique to a patient’s tumor and offer both a rapid, tumor-naïve test and an ultra-sensitive, tumor-informed test.

According to Tempus, the main advantages of these new tests come from their ability to provide early-stage cancer insights. This early detection can significantly impact a patient's care plan and outcome. Furthermore, offering two types of tests provides physicians with the necessary flexibility to address the individual needs of each of their patients.