Thermo Fisher Scientific has expanded its Oncomine portfolio with new assays for liquid biopsy and immuno-oncology for clinical research. The company also introduced its next generation Ion AmpliSeq HD technology, which adds customizable design capabilities to solid tumor and cell-free DNA panels.
 
The Ion Torrent Oncomine Pan-Cancer Cell-Free Assay enables reproducible detection and analysis of tumor DNA and RNA across all major classes of somatic mutations from a single vial of blood within two days, according to the company. It targets more than 50 genes across multiple cancer types, including lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, thyroid and others.
 
The Ion Torrent Oncomine Tumor Mutation Load Assay is based on a selected set of 409 genes that can be sequenced using as little as 20 nanograms of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) DNA, according to the company. The assay is designed to improve potential selection strategies for immune therapy clinical trials.
 
Both new assays integrate with Ion Torrent sample preparation, targeted sequencing and downstream bioinformatics and reporting tools, such as the Oncomine Knowledgebase Reporter.
 
Also, the Ion AmpliSeq HD technology is a new, customizable, next-gen core chemistry that can achieve increased detection sensitivity down to ≤0.1 percent mutant allele fractions in blood samples, according to the company. A primer design process helps expand the scope of fixed panels and enable clinical researchers to create custom-design cell-free DNA (cfDNA) panels with flexibility. The technology is also applicable to FFPE samples.  
 
When available 2Q18, the new chemistry will serve as a foundational solution—alongside Ion AmpliSeq technology—to power gene panels currently in development.