AUSTIN, Texas — September 18, 2026
Natera announced new data from the IASLC 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) showing strong prognostic associations between Signatera™ molecular residual disease (MRD) status and outcomes in patients with resected stage 1–3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The analysis included 1,129 patients, representing the largest lung cancer MRD dataset presented to date according to Natera. Signatera MRD detection was assessed during the early post-surgical period and throughout surveillance, with findings showing consistent prognostic value across primary surgical and perioperative cohorts.
Signatera MRD Status Predicts Recurrence Risk After Surgery
Early post-surgical Signatera status was strongly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the analysis. Patients were evaluated between seven and 90 days following surgery, and those who were Signatera-negative had a 25% higher absolute three-year RFS compared with patients who tested positive. During surveillance, Signatera-positive patients had approximately five times the risk of recurrence or death, highlighting the potential value of circulating tumor DNA-based MRD assessment for identifying patients at increased risk following definitive treatment.
Findings Support MRD Monitoring Across NSCLC Settings
The prognostic findings were consistent across both primary surgical and perioperative cohorts, supporting evaluation of Signatera monitoring across different treatment settings in resected stage 1–3 NSCLC. The WCLC program also included additional research examining ctDNA following definitive therapy with or without immunotherapy, MRD as a potential biomarker for treatment stratification in unresectable stage 3 NSCLC, and molecular and clinical factors associated with outcomes in advanced NSCLC. Together, the presentations expand the evidence base for using circulating tumor DNA to characterize residual disease and disease recurrence risk.
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Natera Expands Precision Oncology Evidence for Signatera
The WCLC findings add to Natera’s growing clinical evidence supporting Signatera as a personalized ctDNA-based MRD test in oncology. The company is positioning MRD assessment as a potential tool for improving risk characterization after treatment and informing future approaches to surveillance and adjuvant treatment decisions. The lung cancer dataset was presented by investigators including Charu Aggarwal, M.D., MPH, FASCO, from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Natera continues to develop cell-free DNA and precision medicine applications across oncology, women’s health and organ health.
Source : Natera, press release
