What is Signatera?
Signatera is a new blood test that can identify molecular residual disease (MRD), or recurrent cancer, sooner than existing methods by detecting the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Signatera is a custom-designed test that is generated based on each patient’s unique set of tumor mutations.
Knowing earlier if your cancer is likely to recur or has progressed after treatment can help you have a more informed discussion with your doctor on how to continue to treat or detect changes in your disease.
Short introduction to Signatera from Natera, the test company:
Who should use Signatera?
Signatera is suggested for those with solid malignancies where surgery or a biopsy of the primary tumor is possible.
When should Signatera be considered?
- At initial cancer diagnosis, to establish a baseline before surgery or treatment
- After surgery, before starting chemotherapy
- During treatment, to evaluate treatment response
- After treatment, to monitor for molecular residual disease or tumor response to treatment
What's Molecular Residual Disease?
Similar to “minimal residual disease,” a term used to describe the presence of cancer cells remaining in the blood after treatment for hematologic cancers, the presence of ctDNA in the blood after treatment for solid tumors is referred to as “molecular residual disease.”
Download the Signatera Patient Guide (PDF):