Validation of the Labcorp Plasma Focus Test to Facilitate Precision Oncology Through Cell-Free DNA Genomic Profiling of Solid Tumors

J Mol Diagn. 2023 Jul;25(7):477-489. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2023.03.008. Epub 2023 Apr 15.

Abstract

Genomic profiling is critical for precision oncology to guide treatment decisions. Liquid biopsy testing is a complementary approach to tissue testing, particularly when tissue is not readily available. The Labcorp Plasma Focus test is a circulating cell-free DNA genomic profiling test that identifies actionable variants in solid cancers, including non-small-cell lung, colorectal, melanoma, breast, esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric cancers. This study highlights the analytical validation of the test, including accuracy compared with orthogonal methods, as well as sensitivity, specificity, precision, reproducibility, and repeatability. Concordance with orthogonal methods showed percent positive agreement of 98.7%, 89.3%, and 96.2% for single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertion/deletions (indels), and copy number amplifications (CNAs), respectively, and 100.0% for translocations and microsatellite instability (MSI). Analytical sensitivity revealed a median limit of detection of 0.7% and 0.6% for SNVs and indels, 1.4-fold for CNAs, 0.5% variant allele frequency for translocations, and 0.6% for MSI. Specificity was >99% for SNVs/indels and 100% for CNAs, translocations, and MSI. Average positive agreement from precision, reproducibility, and repeatability experiments was 97.5% and 88.9% for SNVs/indels and CNAs, and 100% for translocations and MSI. Taken together, these data show that the Labcorp Plasma Focus test is a highly accurate, sensitive, and specific approach for cell-free DNA genomic profiling to supplement tissue testing and inform treatment decisions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung*
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids* / genetics
  • Genomics / methods
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms*
  • Microsatellite Instability
  • Precision Medicine
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids