Quest Diagnostics to Present Groundbreaking Data on Haystack MRD® at 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, has announced that it will present significant findings on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) testing during two poster presentations at the upcoming 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. This event is scheduled to take place from January 8-10, 2026, in San Francisco, CA, and will also be available online.
Poster Presentation Details
The presentations will focus on the application of ctDNA in colorectal cancer using the innovative Haystack MRD® test from Quest Diagnostics. The details of the presentations are as follows:
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Title: Reproducibility and Clinical Concordance of a Tumor-Informed MRD Assay in Patients with Resected Colorectal Cancer from the DYNAMIC Trials
Abstract Number: 26
Lead Author: Jeanne Tie, MBChB, FRACP, MD
Session Time and Date: January 10, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (PST) -
Title: Use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to monitor patients undergoing total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC)
Abstract Number: 30
Lead Author: Eric Christenson, MD
Session Time and Date: January 10, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (PST)
Significance of ctDNA MRD Testing
A growing body of research highlights the importance of ctDNA-based MRD testing for detecting residual or recurring cancer in solid tumors. By identifying trace amounts of tumor-derived DNA in the bloodstream, MRD testing can provide molecular evidence of disease recurrence months ahead of traditional imaging methods. This advancement allows clinicians to adjust treatment plans proactively and improve surveillance strategies, potentially leading to earlier intervention before signs of disease progression.
Remarkably, a recent survey conducted by Harris Poll for Quest Diagnostics indicated that nearly all oncologists—96%—believe that MRD testing can identify cancer recurrence earlier than alternative techniques.
About Haystack Oncology
Haystack Oncology, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, exemplifies over 20 years of collaboration aimed at enhancing liquid biopsy technologies spearheaded by cancer genomics experts at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The subsidiary has developed Haystack MRD, a cutting-edge, tumor-informed MRD test characterized by its ability to detect ultralow levels of ctDNA with exceptional sensitivity and specificity.
Haystack Oncology collaborates with biopharmaceutical companies to expedite clinical development programs and advance critical therapeutics to global markets, covering the spectrum from early-phase clinical trials to companion diagnostics. The Haystack MRD test has been validated in a CLIA-certified laboratory and is available as a laboratory-developed test (LDT) through Quest Diagnostics. Additionally, it is offered for clinical trials as an investigational device at facilities in Baltimore, Maryland; Hamburg, Germany; and Helsinki, Finland.
For further information, visit www.haystackmrd.com.