Abstract 3243: Investigating the value of testing for actionable alterations and circulating tumor DNA in breast and colorectal cancers

Abstract Tumor molecular profiling may reveal distinct biological behaviors by identifying actionable alterations (AAs), informing precision oncology. However, the effect of molecular characteristics on ctDNA detection and monitoring is not well studied. Here, we evaluated patients with breast cancer (BC; all subtypes) or colorectal cancer (CRC) who received whole transcriptome and whole exome profiling with the OncoExTra® assay and assessment of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status using the Oncodetect™ assay. The primary objective was to describe the frequency of AAs in BC and CRC overall and stratified by ctDNA status, tumor subtype, and clinical stage. In total, 88 patients were evaluated (42 BC and 46 CRC). All CRC patients and 41 BC patients (97.6%) had an AA identified, and 52.3% had an AA associated with FDA-approved therapy. All stage II-IV tumors (80 samples) and 6 of 7 stage I tumors (85.7%) had an AA. HR+/HER2- BC samples had AAs associated with approved matched therapy in 13 (54.2%) samples , which included PIK3CA mutations associated with alpelisib, capivasertib, and/or inavolisib (7 samples; 16.7%) and 1 ESR1 alteration. PIK3CA mutations were present in 9 of 34 (26.5%) stage II/III CRCs, where aspirin therapy has been shown to improve survival. Within our limited cohort, AAs with approved matched therapies were found in 81.8% of stage I-II and 65.7% of stage III-IV CRC and were found in 31.3% and 36.0% of stage I-II vs III-IV BCs, respectively. Among ctDNA-positive BC samples, 27.6% had an AA associated with approved matched therapy vs. 46.2% in ctDNA-negative samples. For CRC, these frequencies were 62.1% and 82.4%, respectively. No association was found between any AA and ctDNA detection. Other AAs associated with FDA-approved therapies are listed in the table. Detection of AAs associated with FDA-approved matched therapy in approximately half of samples tested for ctDNA suggests it may influence therapy selection and disease management. Citation Format: Gargi D. Basu, Nick Johnson, Angela Deem, Judith Frederick, Terence Wong, Janine R. LoBello, Szabolcs Szelinger, Nishitha Therala, Mark Evans, Miriam Walker, Jean-Paul De La O. Investigating the value of testing for actionable alterations and circulating tumor DNA in breast and colorectal cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3243.

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Journal
Cancer Research
Published
2026-04-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-3243
Primary Topic
Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
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article
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article

Abstract 3243: Investigating the value of testing for actionable alterations and circulating tumor DNA in breast and colorectal cancers

Judith Frederick, Nishitha Therala, Angela K. Deem, Jean-Paul De La O et al.
Cancer Research
Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
article

Abstract 3243: Investigating the value of testing for actionable alterations and circulating tumor DNA in breast and colorectal cancers

Judith Frederick, Nishitha Therala, Angela K. Deem, Jean-Paul De La O, Szabolcs Szelinger, Mark C. Evans, Gargi D. Basu, Miriam Walker, Terence Wong, Janine R. LoBello, Nick Johnson
article en

Abstract

Abstract Tumor molecular profiling may reveal distinct biological behaviors by identifying actionable alterations (AAs), informing precision oncology. However, the effect of molecular characteristics on ctDNA detection and monitoring is not well studied. Here, we evaluated patients with breast cancer (BC; all subtypes) or colorectal cancer (CRC) who received whole transcriptome and whole exome profiling with the OncoExTra® assay and assessment of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status using the Oncodetect™ assay. The primary objective was to describe the frequency of AAs in BC and CRC overall and stratified by ctDNA status, tumor subtype, and clinical stage. In total, 88 patients were evaluated (42 BC and 46 CRC). All CRC patients and 41 BC patients (97.6%) had an AA identified, and 52.3% had an AA associated with FDA-approved therapy. All stage II-IV tumors (80 samples) and 6 of 7 stage I tumors (85.7%) had an AA. HR+/HER2- BC samples had AAs associated with approved matched therapy in 13 (54.2%) samples , which included PIK3CA mutations associated with alpelisib, capivasertib, and/or inavolisib (7 samples; 16.7%) and 1 ESR1 alteration. PIK3CA mutations were present in 9 of 34 (26.5%) stage II/III CRCs, where aspirin therapy has been shown to improve survival. Within our limited cohort, AAs with approved matched therapies were found in 81.8% of stage I-II and 65.7% of stage III-IV CRC and were found in 31.3% and 36.0% of stage I-II vs III-IV BCs, respectively. Among ctDNA-positive BC samples, 27.6% had an AA associated with approved matched therapy vs. 46.2% in ctDNA-negative samples. For CRC, these frequencies were 62.1% and 82.4%, respectively. No association was found between any AA and ctDNA detection. Other AAs associated with FDA-approved therapies are listed in the table. Detection of AAs associated with FDA-approved matched therapy in approximately half of samples tested for ctDNA suggests it may influence therapy selection and disease management. Citation Format: Gargi D. Basu, Nick Johnson, Angela Deem, Judith Frederick, Terence Wong, Janine R. LoBello, Szabolcs Szelinger, Nishitha Therala, Mark Evans, Miriam Walker, Jean-Paul De La O. Investigating the value of testing for actionable alterations and circulating tumor DNA in breast and colorectal cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3243.

Cancer ResearchVol. 86(7_Supplement)
Exact Sciences (United States) (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
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