Exact Sciences, a provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, today announced the launch of the OncoExTra therapy selection test in the United States. OncoExTra is a next-generation sequencing (NGS), DNA and RNA based genomic test providing doctors and their patients a complete molecular picture of the patient's cancer. The test provides reliable and actionable results personalized to each patient.
The majority of eligible cancer patients do not receive comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) to help understand their disease and guide treatment. Personalized medicine, powered by CGP, helps oncologists understand the unique biology of each patient's tumor and prescribe treatments determined to offer the best outcomes.
The OncoExTra test uses NGS to assess the tumor's RNA and DNA, providing actionable information to inform treatment decisions and uncover variants possibly missed by only evaluating DNA. The OncoExTra test works by profiling the entire exome and the transcriptome across approximately 20,000 genes. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has updated its guidelines to recommend RNA-based fusion testing for patients with no actionable information provided by a standard DNA, multigene panel test. OncoExTra also analyzes all National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommended genes for patients with solid tumors and provides expertly curated, intuitive reports. The OncoExTra test uses matched tumor-normal sequencing, which also limits false positives and allows physicians to make clinical decisions based on somatic variants detected. Medicare covers the OncoExTra test and doctors can order the test for all advanced solid tumors. The sales team that helps educate oncologists on Oncotype tests will also bring OncoExTra to market; most oncologists have ordered Oncotype tests and they can now order both products from a single Exact Sciences portal, streamlining the management and treatment for both early stage and late-stage patients.
The OncoExTra test includes information on targetable mutations and fusions, immuno-oncology signatures and clinical trial options. Healthcare providers can also order immunohistochemical (IHC) panels and individual stains concurrently, allowing them to receive all actionable tumor information from Exact Sciences.
