Publications and presentations
Nonoperative management of mismatch repair–deficient tumors
Cercek et al | April 2025 | Publication
Haystack MRD was used in a groundbreaking study in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that in many patients with early-stage mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) solid tumors, immunotherapy could prevent the need for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In the study, Haystack MRD identified clinical complete response in as little as 1.4 months.
Circulating tumor DNA analysis guiding adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer: 5-year outcomes of the randomized DYNAMIC trial
Tie et al | March 2025 | Publication
This Nature Medicine publication presents a 5-year update of the DYNAMIC trial results. An early version of Haystack MRD’s ctDNA detection technology was used to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in patients with stage II colon cancer. Consistent with earlier results, the ctDNA-guided approach reduced the use of adjuvant chemotherapy without lowering recurrence-free or overall survival.
Two leading oncologists take a deep dive into how groundbreaking advancements are providing a clearer crystal ball for guiding patient care
Flora & Patt | October 2024 | Video
In this video, two thought leaders in medical oncology discuss how groundbreaking advancements are transforming cancer diagnostics and treatment decisions. Take a deep dive with Dr. Doug Flora and Dr. Debra Patt who share insights into how these tools provide a clearer crystal ball for guiding patient care, minimizing treatment burdens, and giving patients more confidence in their health journey.
Budget Impact Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA Testing for Colon Cancer in Commercial Health and Medicare Advantage Plans
Li et al. | May 2024 | Publication
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for minimal residual disease (MRD) can reduce costs by up to 21% across health plan populations when half of eligible patients with stage II colorectal cancer are tested for treatment decisions.
Applying precision technology to improve the detection of residual disease in cancer patients
Haystack Oncology | March 2023 | Article
Haystack MRD’s highly sensitive ctDNA test can be used to detect the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) in early-stage cancer patients after curative-intent surgery.
Clinicians’ Perspectives on Circulating Tumor DNA MRD Testing in Personalizing Adjuvant Therapy for Stage II Colon Cancer
Barzi & Tie | August 2022 | Webinar
Webinar featuring input on using ctDNA testing to inform colon cancer treatment decisions from two medical oncologists: Afsaneh Barzi, MD, PhD and Jeanne Tie, MD, MBChB.
Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis Guiding Adjuvant Therapy in Stage II Colon Cancer
Tie et al | June 2022 | Publication
Report of the DYNAMIC clinical trial, the first prospective, randomized, interventional trial to show clinical utility for ctDNA testing in patients with stage II colorectal cancer. An early version of Haystack MRD ctDNA detection technology was used to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions, leading to a significant reduction in chemotherapy use compared to the standard-of-care control arm, without negatively affecting patient outcomes.
Prognostic significance of postsurgery circulating tumor DNA in nonmetastatic colorectal cancer: Individual patient pooled analysis of 3 cohort studies
Tie et al | 2021 | Publication
Pooled analysis of the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in three studies of patients with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer. Post-surgery ctDNA detection predicted recurrence better than clinicopathological risk features. Risk of recurrence increased exponentially as ctDNA level increased. The presence of ctDNA predicted locoregional recurrence to a greater degree than distant recurrence.
Circulating tumor DNA dynamics and recurrence risk in patients undergoing curative intent resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases: A prospective cohort study
Tie et al | 2019 | Publication
Study showing the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases. Detection of ctDNA following surgery, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, was associated with worse outcomes. Persistent detection of ctDNA following adjuvant chemotherapy predicted recurrence.
Circulating Tumor DNA Analyses as Markers of Recurrence Risk and Benefit of Adjuvant Therapy for Stage III Colon Cancer
Tie et al | 2019 | Publication
Study showing the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in stage III colorectal cancer patients. Patients who had undetectable ctDNA after surgery and after chemotherapy had a significant improvement in 3-year recurrence-free survival.
Prognostic Potential of Circulating Tumor DNA Measurement in Postoperative Surveillance of Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer
Wang et al | 2019 | Publication
Circulating tumor DNA levels can be used to stratify patients with resected, nonmetastatic colorectal cancer by risk of recurrence. Positive ctDNA results preceded recurrence by a median of 3 months. None of the patients with negative ctDNA throughout follow-up experienced relapse.
Circulating tumor DNA analysis detects minimal residual disease and predicts recurrence in patients with stage II colon cancer
Tie et al | July 2016 | Publication
Using Safe-SeqS technology, an earlier version of the technology used in Haystack MRD, the authors show that the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in a stage II colorectal cancer patient after surgery is a sign of residual disease and of a greatly increased risk of relapse.
Circulating tumor DNA as an early marker of therapeutic response in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
Tie et al | 2015 | Publication
Therapeutic response assessment using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is predictive of later radiologic response in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
Detection of circulating tumor DNA in early- and late-stage human malignancies
Bettegowda et al | 2014 | Publication
Survey of ctDNA detectability across multiple tumor types and stages.
Detection and quantification of rare mutations with massively parallel sequencing
Kinde et al | May 2011 | Publication
Describes Safe-SeqS—the first highly sensitive next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based liquid biopsy technology, which eventually evolved into the technology used in Haystack MRD.
Circulating mutant DNA to assess tumor dynamics
Diehl et al | July 2008 | Publication
First clinical evidence for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based liquid biopsy as a method to reliably monitor disease status in cancer patients. First application and clinical evidence demonstrating utility of postsurgical tumor-informed MRD testing.
Detection and quantification of mutations in the plasma of patients with colorectal tumors
Diehl et al | October 2005 | Publication
Defines the sensitivity at which circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based liquid biopsy assays need to perform for patients with cancer.
Digital PCR
Vogelstein & Kinzler | August 1999 | Publication
Describes a process for transforming PCR into a linear, digital signal where single molecules can be isolated and amplified. The digital PCR technique provided a reliable and quantitative measure of the proportion of DNA variants within a sample and was foundational to developing liquid biopsy-based applications.
