Comparison of Tumor-Informed Assays for MRD Detection

This technical report presents a comparison between two molecular residual disease (MRD) detection assays: the Illumina whole genome sequencing (WGS) assay and the tumor-informed bespoke whole exome sequencing (WES) assay. The study focuses on their performance metrics and ctDNA clearance rates in the context of the CheckMate 77T clinical trial. The Illumina WGS MRD assay demonstrated a high concordance rate with the tumor-informed WES MRD assay for MRD-positive detection, achieving a positive percent agreement of 99%. Additionally, the Illumina WGS assay showed improved analytical sensitivity and a significantly reduced turnaround time, making it a more efficient option for ctDNA monitoring in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The report outlines the workflows of both assays, highlighting the operational complexities and input requirements. The findings suggest that the Illumina WGS MRD assay may provide a scalable and practical approach for clinical applications in MRD detection.