NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Cynvenio Biosysterms and Color announced an agreement today to offer a combined version of their respective liquid biopsy and hereditary cancer tests.
Using the new offering, clinicians can test breast cancer patients for alterations in the 30 genes on Color's hereditary cancer panel, as well as for somatic cancer mutations in the 27 genes that Cynvenio's ClearID breast cancer test covers.
Color's test detects alterations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as a number of other genes associated with increased risk of hereditary cancers, including melanoma, ovarian, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, stomach, and uterine cancers. All tested patients and their healthcare providers gain access to board-certified genetic counselling.
Cynvenio's test analyzes both circulating tumor cells and cell-free DNA, and was designed for patients undergoing treatment for advanced breast cancer, or those who require follow-up at regular intervals after completing therapy.
The combined Color and ClearID test offers a comprehensive approach for assessing hereditary breast cancer risk and monitoring patients at risk of disease, the companies said.
"Even well into therapy, too many patients do not seek BRCA testing because of concerns over cost or other reasons, which is unfortunate because BRCA status is important for evaluating treatment strategies," Cynvenio CEO André de Fusco said in a statement.
De Fusco added that combining the two tests could also lower cost barriers and hopefully expand availability of BRCA and hereditary cancer testing to more people who could benefit from it.