1. < Gynecologic Cancers
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Has anyone had Signatera testing (genetics-based cancer test)?

Posted by amywells @amywells, Jun 16 11:24am

I'm wondering if anyone here has heard of or had Signaterra testing? I just learned about it from a neighbor who works for the company that developed it. I have Stage 3b ovarian cancer and apparently that's one of the indications for having the testing done. It sounds like a good thing to do but I've never heard about it before and that makes me wonder....
Thanks for any information!

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Profile picture for laseifer
laseifer | @laseifer | Sep 28 9:24am
In reply to @jandrew1922 "Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA?..." + (show)
Profile picture for jandrew1922 @jandrew1922

Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA? I am hearing there can be false positives.

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It is quite confusing as it is just starting to be used in ovarian cancer. But to your point CA 125 is also not always a reliable marker. I had a CA 125 of 7 but had a recurrence in a lymph node that was picked up by a positive Signatera test and required surgery for removal. I now get Signatera for monitoring as well as CA 125 and now both are negative. Nothing easy for us ovarian cancer warriors.

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Profile picture for ffr
ffr | @ffr | Sep 28 9:25am
In reply to @jandrew1922 "Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA?..." + (show)
Profile picture for jandrew1922 @jandrew1922

Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA? I am hearing there can be false positives.

Jump to this post

My oncologist has given me a similar response to Laurelmarie’s doctor. (I am an endometrial cancer patient.)
But I hear that MSK uses circulating tumor/blood biopsies as standard protocol. My brain says that it’s another tool in the toolbox to try to catch recurrence quickly. Maybe it’s an insurance issue?

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Profile picture for ginmav
ginmav | @ginmav | Sep 28 1:06pm
In reply to @jandrew1922 "Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA?..." + (show)
Profile picture for jandrew1922 @jandrew1922

Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA? I am hearing there can be false positives.

Jump to this post

I am new to this site. Last year was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and peritoneal cancer. Had 6 months of chemo and radical hysterectomy. CA125 is now under 4 and taking Lynparza.

I have a question what is this
Signature test? I will have to discuss with my Dr.

I am so happy to find this site.
Also anybody else taking lynparza.

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2 replies
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jandrew1922 | @jandrew1922 | Sep 28 6:02pm
In reply to @ginmav "I am new to this site. Last year was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and..." + (show)
Profile picture for ginmav @ginmav

I am new to this site. Last year was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and peritoneal cancer. Had 6 months of chemo and radical hysterectomy. CA125 is now under 4 and taking Lynparza.

I have a question what is this
Signature test? I will have to discuss with my Dr.

I am so happy to find this site.
Also anybody else taking lynparza.

Jump to this post

@ginmav
I am on Lynparza 400mg daily.

REPLY
1 reply
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val64 | @val64 | Sep 28 6:18pm
In reply to @ginmav "I am new to this site. Last year was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and..." + (show)
Profile picture for ginmav @ginmav

I am new to this site. Last year was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and peritoneal cancer. Had 6 months of chemo and radical hysterectomy. CA125 is now under 4 and taking Lynparza.

I have a question what is this
Signature test? I will have to discuss with my Dr.

I am so happy to find this site.
Also anybody else taking lynparza.

Jump to this post

The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for low levels of DNA derived from your cancer in your blood. So it serves the same purpose as testing for CA125. How well it works is a subject of debate. There are definitely false negatives. If it's positive, that means there are cells derived from your cancer somewhere in your body. But apparently sometimes the source is hard to find, and a tumor may not grow. So these are considered false positives.

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3 replies
Profile picture for ginmav
ginmav | @ginmav | Sep 28 6:50pm
In reply to @val64 "The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for..." + (show)
Profile picture for val64 @val64

The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for low levels of DNA derived from your cancer in your blood. So it serves the same purpose as testing for CA125. How well it works is a subject of debate. There are definitely false negatives. If it's positive, that means there are cells derived from your cancer somewhere in your body. But apparently sometimes the source is hard to find, and a tumor may not grow. So these are considered false positives.

Jump to this post

@val64

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Profile picture for ginmav
ginmav | @ginmav | Sep 28 6:53pm
In reply to @jandrew1922 "Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA?..." + (show)
Profile picture for jandrew1922 @jandrew1922

Has anyone with stage IV Ovarian Cancer had the Signatura blood test for circulating Cancer DNA? I am hearing there can be false positives.

Jump to this post

Thanks for explaining the test.

Also you said you take Lynparza as well. I have been feeling pretty good on this drug but do have some side effects like tiredness. Also some GI issues.

Do you experience any of these?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for ginmav
ginmav | @ginmav | Sep 29 8:25am
In reply to @val64 "The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for..." + (show)
Profile picture for val64 @val64

The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for low levels of DNA derived from your cancer in your blood. So it serves the same purpose as testing for CA125. How well it works is a subject of debate. There are definitely false negatives. If it's positive, that means there are cells derived from your cancer somewhere in your body. But apparently sometimes the source is hard to find, and a tumor may not grow. So these are considered false positives.

Jump to this post

@val64

Thank you for replying. Worth mentioning to my doctor and see what she says.

REPLY
1 reply
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carol1024 | @carol1024 | Sep 30 5:47am
In reply to @val64 "The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for..." + (show)
Profile picture for val64 @val64

The Signatera test (by the company Natera) is intended to detect cancer recurrences by looking for low levels of DNA derived from your cancer in your blood. So it serves the same purpose as testing for CA125. How well it works is a subject of debate. There are definitely false negatives. If it's positive, that means there are cells derived from your cancer somewhere in your body. But apparently sometimes the source is hard to find, and a tumor may not grow. So these are considered false positives.

Jump to this post

@val64 I had the test but have yet to discuss it with my doctor. Appt coming up. I'm stage 4 endometrial cancer currently undergoing my second session of treatments. The test is actually ordered monthly with these 3 treatments.

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2 replies
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sistermarcy | @sistermarcy | Sep 30 9:35am

Thank you for sharing your results.

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