Findings presented at ESMO show the test detected signs of remaining cancer that another sequencing method missed, with a 30-percentage-point improvement in sensitivity.
Abbott presented clinical validation data demonstrating that its whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based Oncodetect molecular residual disease (MRD) test achieved a 30% absolute improvement in sensitivity for colorectal cancer recurrence within two years of surgery compared with whole-exome sequencing (WES).
Presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026, findings from the Beta-CORRECT study evaluated post-surgical samples from 279 patients, predominantly with stage II and III colorectal cancer, using a single post-operative blood draw. Detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) following surgery was identified as the strongest predictor of cancer recurrence among the clinical measures evaluated.
Findings from the Beta-CORRECT Study
Conducted in collaboration with Dr Takayuki Yoshino, MD, PhD, of the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Japan, Beta-CORRECT is the first clinical validation study of the WGS Oncodetect test in patients with stage II, III, and resectable stage IV colorectal cancer.
The tumor-informed assay tracks up to 5,000 DNA variants unique to each patient’s tumor, expanding analytical capabilities when minute amounts of ctDNA are present in plasma.
“Beta-CORRECT adds important clinical evidence supporting the prognostic value of highly sensitive MRD testing in colorectal cancer,” says Takayuki Yoshino, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the Beta-CORRECT study, in a release. “The ability to identify additional patients with detectable ctDNA after surgery may help refine recurrence risk assessment beyond traditional clinical factors. Continued research will help determine how these findings can best inform patient management.”
Clinical Laboratory Specifications and Utility
The next-generation Oncodetect assay provides a quantitative assessment of ctDNA shed into the bloodstream, measured in MTM/mL, to help clinicians evaluate MRD status and track changes in tumor burden over time.
“These findings reinforce why sensitivity matters in MRD testing, particularly after surgery when ctDNA can be difficult to detect,” says Rick Baehner, divisional vice president and chief medical officer of precision oncology for Abbott’s cancer diagnostics business, in a release. “By identifying additional patients with residual disease, we can provide physicians with important molecular information about recurrence risk at a critical point in care.”
The assay was developed, and its performance characteristics determined, by Genomic Health Inc. The test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Clinical testing is performed at Genomic Health Inc, which holds certification under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments regulations to perform high-complexity clinical testing.
The preliminary findings were presented in poster 4426P at ESMO 2026. Ongoing patient follow-up and longitudinal testing across subsequent time points are expected to yield further data on the relationship between MRD, adjuvant therapy, and recurrence risk over time.
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