Educational Moment: Signaterra ctDNA Test

My Oncologist recently requested another Signaterra ctDNA test to monitor my brain necrosis following radiation 9 months ago. This time, Natera contacted me to tell me they now had a portal, and my results were ready. I called the number to verify the message wasn't spam and learned they now offer a half-hour consultation, which I've done. Here is what I learned:

1. Their ctDNA test is designed to monitor recurrence and tumor growth. It is custom-tailored to your mutation, but not in the way you think. Rather than looking for my Exon 19 mutation markers, it focuses on the markers indicating any activity, throwing a specific net rather than a wide one and choosing mutations that will be there from the beginning to the end. Again, NOT looking at the EGFR mutation, which can mutate. Instead, looking for the unchanging cellular mutations that indicate activity.

2. Signatera also offers somatic, or tumor, testing that can detect mutations. Unfortunately, that's problematic for people like me whose lung cancer has metastasized to my brain.

3. Lastly, they offer hereditary cancer testing. While EGFR mutations are shared, only a tiny percentage are pre-disposed. In general, lung cancer is not hereditary. Nonsmoking lung cancer is motivating hereditary research, and multiple organizations are currently conducting preliminary studies.

Anyone interested in talking with Natera about cancer genetic testing is invited to call them at (650) 489-9050. I'm sharing their number with this group with their permission.