Data from the TRACERx study and collaborators like Labcorp show the performance of a whole genome sequencing approach for minimal residual disease monitoring.
Ultima Genomics announced new milestones for its ppmSeq technology at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, highlighting the performance of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection.
The data include initial results from the TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy (Rx)) cancer program, a large tumor evolution study funded by Cancer Research UK. A validation pilot of 50 plasma samples achieved analytical sensitivity for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection at low single-digit parts-per-million. This was achieved using tumor-specific variants identified from prior whole genome sequencing without the need for customized assay panels.
“We built ppmSeq to find tumor-derived molecules in a sea of normal DNA, without the need to produce a customized assay for every patient,” says Gilad Almogy, founder and CEO of Ultima Genomics, in a release. “The data presented at AACR this week demonstrate these capabilities and point toward a future where whole-genome MRD is the standard of care for patients globally.”
Performance Across Tumor Types
The TRACERx study generated genetic data from more than 3,200 tumor samples from over 800 lung cancer patients. According to the company, the WGS approach allows for personalized, tumor-guided ctDNA detection without the complexity of bespoke panel design and production.
“TRACERx has always followed the science of cancer evolution wherever it leads,” says Charles Swanton, PhD, deputy clinical director at The Francis Crick Institute, in a release. “Improving the sensitivity of ctDNA detection is central to the wider ambition for MRD monitoring, and expanding studies across a broader patient population will give us the statistical power and clinical context to determine how whole genome MRD monitoring can be deployed at NHS scale and beyond.”
Dan A Landau, MD, PhD, a core member at the New York Genome Center and professor of medicine and professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, says the ability to perform this detection at parts-per-million sensitivity changes what is achievable in lung cancer MRD monitoring.
Analytical Validation and Clinical Implementation
Labcorp presented data from an independent analytical study of an assay developed in coordination with the ppmSeq technology. The analysis of 120 non-cancerous donor samples showed specificity exceeding 99.9%, which helps differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous samples to minimize false positives.
Additional testing across three cancer cell lines showed a 95% limit of detection below 3 parts per million. These results represent a transition from research-grade performance to clinical-grade reliability for WGS-based MRD detection.
“The whole genome approach enabled by ppmSeq changes the operational efficiency for tumor-informed MRD testing in a reference laboratory setting,” says Taylor Jensen, PhD, vice president and head of oncology science at Labcorp, in a release. “Eliminating the need for individualized design and physical production of a panel while maintaining low single-digit parts-per-million analytical sensitivity is the kind of advancement that makes broad clinical deployment feasible, and the analytical data we are presenting at AACR support a compelling case for WGS-based MRD as a scalable solution.”
Collaborative Research Results
Other studies presented at the meeting addressed new applications for the platform:
DELFI Diagnostics: Research examined the performance of DELFI-TF, a cfDNA fragmentation-based tool for monitoring treatment response. The study found that combining this tool with ppmSeq enabled the distinction of tumor-derived DNA fragments from normal fragments, potentially improving detection sensitivity.
Watchmaker Genomics: A study evaluated the TAPS+ workflow for epigenetic profiling in breast carcinoma patients. Libraries sequenced on the Ultima UG 100 platform showed equivalent methylation patterns and conversion efficiency to other sequencing platforms, validating cross-platform reproducibility for clinical assay development.
Ultima Genomics also hosted its inaugural global MRD symposium alongside Landau and Swanton to discuss the clinical adoption of novel sequencing approaches and ultra-sensitive detection technologies in oncology.
