Abbott Oncodetect study results announced on October 23, 2026, showed that its whole-genome sequencing test detected colorectal cancer recurrence with greater sensitivity than its whole-exome sequencing version. Using a single blood sample taken approximately one month after surgery, the newer test achieved 72.2% sensitivity for recurrence within two years, compared with 42.2% for the earlier approach.
Key Takeaways
- The sensitivity gain was 30 percentage points, rather than a 30% relative increase.
- In 157 patients tested with both versions, whole-genome sequencing identified 15 additional patients with circulating tumor DNA.
- The findings support recurrence-risk assessment but do not establish that test-guided treatment improves patient outcomes.
Table of Contents
- Abbott Oncodetect detects more low-level tumor DNA
- Positive results were associated with higher recurrence risk
- Treatment implications still need further research
- Conclusion
Abbott Oncodetect detects more low-level tumor DNA
Abbott’s Beta-CORRECT results announcement described findings presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. The study analyzed post-surgical samples from 279 patients, predominantly with stage II and III colorectal cancer; the direct comparison between the two test versions involved 157 patients.
Within that comparison group, the whole-genome sequencing test detected circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, in all 29 patients identified by the whole-exome sequencing test, plus another 15. All additional detections were below 20 parts per million, including 14 below 10 parts per million.
The distinction matters after surgery, when small amounts of cancer DNA can be difficult to detect. Oncodetect is a molecular residual disease test designed to look for traces of cancer remaining after treatment, rather than a screening test for people without a cancer diagnosis.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Validation population | Stage II, stage III and resectable stage IV colorectal cancer. |
| Personalized test design | Tracks up to 5,000 DNA variants unique to each patient’s tumor. |
| Conference presentation | ESMO 2026 poster 4426P, presented during the October 23–27 congress in Madrid. |
Positive results were associated with higher recurrence risk
Patients with detectable ctDNA after surgery had a 10.6-fold higher risk of recurrence than those without detectable ctDNA. Two-year disease-free survival was 36.2% in the ctDNA-positive group, compared with 92.3% in the ctDNA-negative group.
The stage II analysis also showed a pronounced difference: patients with detectable ctDNA had approximately 31-fold higher recurrence risk. Among stage II patients with undetectable ctDNA, 2.8% experienced recurrence within two years.
These findings demonstrate an association between detectable tumor DNA and subsequent recurrence. They do not mean that every positive patient will relapse, or that a negative result rules out recurrence.
Treatment implications still need further research
Principal investigator Dr. Takayuki Yoshino of Japan’s National Cancer Center Hospital East said identifying additional ctDNA-positive patients may help refine recurrence-risk assessment beyond traditional clinical factors. He also emphasized that continued research is needed to determine how the findings should inform patient management.
Abbott said additional patient follow-up and data from later testing time points are expected to clarify the relationship between residual disease, adjuvant therapy and recurrence risk. The announcement presents clinical-validation evidence, not proof that changing treatment based on the test improves survival.
The company also stated that Oncodetect has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The test is performed at Genomic Health’s laboratory, which is certified under CLIA regulations for high-complexity testing.
Conclusion
The Abbott Oncodetect findings strengthen the evidence for detecting very low levels of residual cancer DNA after surgery. Additional follow-up and later testing data are the next expected evidence on how those results relate to treatment and recurrence over time.
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