HOUSTON & LAKE FOREST, Calif., July 16, 2026
Plus Therapeutics and Genomic Testing Cooperative (GTC) announced a strategic collaboration to integrate next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology into the CNSide® cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assay platform. The collaboration is expected to enable comprehensive DNA and RNA profiling across hundreds of clinically relevant biomarkers from a single CSF specimen, expanding CNSide into a more comprehensive precision oncology platform for patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM) and other metastatic central nervous system cancers.
Expanded Molecular Profiling Aligns with Updated NCCN Guidelines
The collaboration is designed to extend CNSide beyond its existing circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration capabilities by adding guideline-recognized analysis of tumor-derived DNA and RNA biomarkers. The expansion aligns with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) CNS Cancers Guidelines Version 2.2026, which now recognize CSF circulating tumor cells alongside tumor-derived DNA and broaden diagnostic recommendations from “CSF cytology” to “CSF analysis.” By integrating these molecular layers into a single CLIA-certified platform, Plus Therapeutics aims to improve diagnostic precision and clinical decision-making in CNS oncology.
Comprehensive Data Platform Supports Precision Oncology and AI
The integrated platform will generate extensive longitudinal molecular datasets by combining hundreds of DNA and RNA biomarkers with CNSide’s tumor cell enumeration and biomarker quantification. These data will strengthen Plus Therapeutics’ three-pillar CNS oncology strategy, which combines the investigational radiotherapeutic REYOBIQ™ (rhenium Re186 obisbemeda), the CNSide precision diagnostic platform, and AI-enabled analytics through its strategic collaboration with Ephemeral Technologies. The company expects the expanded dataset to support translational research, pharmaceutical collaborations, and future AI-driven clinical insights.
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Broader Clinical Utility and Commercial Expansion
The collaboration is expected to enhance the clinical and commercial value of the CNSide platform by supporting broader adoption across metastatic CNS cancers while increasing the diagnostic information available from a single CSF sample. CNSide recently received an American Medical Association PLA code (0640U), became enrolled with Medicare, and has commercial payer agreements covering approximately 126 million U.S. lives. Plus Therapeutics believes the addition of NGS capabilities will strengthen reimbursement opportunities, expand precision oncology applications, and reinforce CNSide’s position as a comprehensive molecular diagnostic platform for leptomeningeal metastases and other CNS malignancies.
Source: Plus Therapeutics press release
