Asia's First Real-World ctDNA-MRD Study Strengthens Evidence for Cost-Effective Cancer Monitoring

A landmark study recently published inMarch 2025by JCO Oncology Advances, demonstrates the potential ofK-TRACKTMin monitoring treatment response and assessing recurrence risk among 623 Solid-Tumor Patients of six cancer types (lung, colorectal, breast, gastric, liver, or ovarian cancer).(1)

SINGAPORE,April 19, 2025/PRNewswire/ --Gene Solutions, a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing precision oncology inAsia, is excited to announce the publication of a pioneering real-world study in JCO Oncology Advances, validating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a strong prognostic biomarker to effectively monitor patients during cancer management.

K-TRACKTMis a breakthrough in affordable tumor profiling and personalized cancer monitoring leveraging ctDNA technology. The study, the first of its kind inAsia, confirms K-TRACKTM's clinical value across both early and advanced stages of cancer. The test can detect residual cancer cells (Minimal Residual Disease – MRD) after radical treatment, predict recurrence months earlier than traditional methods, and monitor treatment responses effectively. This innovative dual assay offers hope to patients in underserved regions where access to advanced diagnostic technologies remains a challenge.

Asiarepresents nearly 50% of global cancer cases, with incidence rates rising at an alarming pace. While some developed markets in the region have seen improvements in cancer mortality rates,Southeast Asiacontinues to experience high death rates, predominantly driven by cancer recurrence.(2,3)

Research has demonstrated the clinical prognostic value of ctDNA in a variety of cancer types both before and after treatment (4).  Despite this potential, the adoption of ctDNA testing remains limited due to factors such as high costs, the absence of standardized methods and insufficient clinical utility of real-world data.

K-TRACKTMwas developed as an affordable, reliable personalized test for monitoring ctDNA across multiple solid tumors. It is designed to facilitate early detection of cancer recurrence and provide real-time monitoring of treatment responses. Validated in both clinical trials and real-world studies, K-TRACKTMis built for meaningful impact in cancer care while ensuring accessibility. Here's how we make it work:

  • Cost-Effective Innovation:K-TRACKTMuniquely combines streamlined tumor profiling of 155 of the most common driver mutations with personalized ctDNA monitoring based on tumor-specific variants, significantly enhancing the affordability and accuracy for routine clinical practice.
  • Comprehensive approach of genomic profiling and minimal residual disease tracking:The initial tumor profiling results guide the selection of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, while subsequent serial ctDNA monitoring provides early prediction of recurrence and assess treatment effectiveness.
  • Designed for Real-World Conditions:K-TRACKTMis engineered to provide reliable results even from challenging samples such as degraded tissue or delayed blood storage, making it ideal for complex clinical settings.

Fig 1. ctDNA analysis workflow. For patients at early stage I-III, paired tumor FFPE and WBC DNA samples were sequenced to identify tumor-specic mutations in 155 cancer-associated genes. Top personalized mutations with the highest ranking scores were used to detect ctDNA in plasma samples by mPCR and ultradeep sequencing. For patients at metastatic stage IV, besides personalized mutations, an additional panel of approximately 500 hotspot mutations specific to each cancer type was added to the  analysis. (PRNewsfoto/Gene Solutions Genomics Pte Ltd)

Real-world monitoring of ctDNA has proven effective in predicting early cancer recurrence, allowing for timely interventions and improved patient outcomes. In both early and advanced-stage cancer patients, K-TRACKTMhas demonstrated high accuracy in predicting recurrence. Following surgery,84.4%[CA1]  of patients with ctDNA-positive results eventually relapsed, while an impressive96.3%[CA2]  of those with ctDNA-negative results remained cancer-free. Moreover, the test could detect relapse up to 5.5-19.5 months earlier than clinical diagnosis by imaging methods. Simultaneously, the six case studies presented illustrated the clinical utility of ctDNA monitoring in predicting treatment response, informing adjuvant chemotherapy decisions, and identifying new resistant mutations to current targeted treatment. Thus, empowering clinicians with real-time, actionable insights to inform treatment decisions.

Fig 2. Prognostic value of ctDNA in early-stage cancer. (A-D) Kaplan-Meier analysis of Disease-free survival (DFS) for patients stratified by postoperative ctDNA status. (E) For patients suspected of recurrence, ctDNA results showed concordance of 87.0% with later diagnosis. (F) No correlation between Variant allele frequency (VAF) of ctDNA and time to recurrence was observed in both suspected and routine surveillance cases. (PRNewsfoto/Gene Solutions Genomics Pte Ltd)

A Vision for Equitable Care

"Access to cutting-edge, personalized cancer treatment and monitoring—based on tumor genomic profiling— too often depends on where you live or what you can afford,"said Dr.Lan N. Tu, Principal Investigator at Gene Solutions."Our mission with K-TRACKTMis to close that gap by providing an affordable and precise real-time solution for routine clinical use."

Gene Solutions is actively investing in two key areas:

1. On-going Clinical Trials and Real-World Studies:

The company is conducting comprehensive research to validate the role of ctDNA across various cancer types and treatment stages. This includes evaluating responses to TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer, neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer, total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer, and the use of biomarkers to inform immunotherapy treatment decisions in advanced cancers.

2. Biopharma Collaborations:

Gene Solutions is actively pursuing partnerships with biopharmaceutical companies to provide innovative solutions aimed at accelerating drug development across a range of therapeutic modalities. As the scientific evidence supporting ctDNA continues to grow, Gene Solutions is committed to expanding its research and fostering collaborations with current and new partners to explore new applications in cancer care. The company's direction aligns with the FDA's recommendation on ctDNA use as a biomarker in the development of curative-intent therapies for solid tumors which states:"ctDNA as a biomarker has a number of potential regulatory and clinical uses in the early-stage setting that may assist and expedite drug development."(5)

About Gene Solutions

Gene Solutions, a multinational biotech company inAsia, is leading the way in leveraging advanced AI and ctDNA technologies for innovative cancer detection solutions. The company partners with over 4,500 hospitals and clinics acrossSoutheast Asiaand employs a dedicated team of approximately 250 biology experts and technicians out of a total of 700 employees.

With more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and over 50 multi-center studies conducted across the region, Gene Solutions is recognized for its proprietary research and CAP-accredited next-generation sequencing (NGS) laboratories inSingaporeandVietnam. By integrating multi-dimensional genomics with AI-driven methodologies, the company is committed to transforming cancer care and improving patient outcomes.

  1. Hoang, V.-A.N. et al. (2025)'Real-World utilization and performance of circulating tumor DNA monitoring to predict recurrence in solid tumors,'JCO Oncology Advances, Volume 2. DOI: 10.1200/OA-24-00084
  2. Huang, J. et al. (2022)'Cancer incidence and mortality in Asian countries: a trend analysis,'Cancer Control, 29. DOI:10.1177/10732748221095955.
  3. Sharma, R. et al. (2024)'Temporal patterns of cancer burden inAsia, 1990-2019: a systematic examination for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study,'The Lancet Regional Health -Southeast Asia, 21, p. 100333. DOI:10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100333.
  4. Kobayashi, S. et al. (2025)'Japansociety of clinical oncology position paper on appropriate clinical use of molecular residual disease (MRD) testing,'International Journal of Clinical Oncology [Preprint]. DOI:10.1007/s10147-024-02683-0.
  5. Use of Circulating Tumor DNA for Curative-Intent Solid Tumor Drug Development. (2024). In Guidance for Industry [Clinical/Medical]. FDA Guidances, Content current as of: 01/17/2025. 

 

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SOURCE Gene Solutions Genomics Pte Ltd