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SEATTLE, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptive Biotechnologies today announced the recent publication of a study conducted with researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center showing that the company's next-generation sequencing-based approach to identification and quantification of populations of B cells can detect tumor-specific DNA sequences in the blood of people with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL). The findings, published in the British Journal of Haematology, represent a first step toward developing a test that will allow physicians to better assess how patients have responded to initial treatment and to detect disease recurrence by simple blood draw instead of radiographic imaging studies.

CHL is characterized by the presence of malignant Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells, which are derived from B cells. Because HRS cells are not present in high numbers in CHL tumors or the blood, attempts to develop clinical assays to evaluate minimal residual disease (MRD) in CHL have not resulted in any tests that could be adopted into regular clinical practice. Currently, disease status is usually assessed using radiographic imaging studies, which are associated with significant cost, radiation exposure and limited specificity.

"To my knowledge, this is the first clinical assay that has the potential to detect minimal residual disease in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma," said Yasuhiro Oki, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, MD Anderson, lead author of the study.

"Accurate determination of disease status after completion of treatment may provide new opportunities for formulating surveillance and/or management strategies," added Anas Younes, MD, who is now the Chief of Lymphoma Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, senior author of the study.

"The immunosequencing technology that was used in this study allows for ultrasensitive detection of lymphoma-specific DNA signatures. This technology is at the heart of our clonoSEQ™ process, which has so far been validated for the detection and quantification of minimal residual disease in myeloma and several types of leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," said Tom Willis, PhD, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Diagnostics Products, Adaptive Biotechnologies. "This study shows that our technology also has the potential to impact the clinical care of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma."

The study, "Detection of classical Hodgkin lymphoma specific sequence in peripheral blood using a next-generation sequencing approach," by Oki, et al. was published online ahead of print on March 29 in the British Journal of Haematology.

About Minimal Residual Disease
Minimal residual disease (MRD) refers to cancer cells that may remain in the body of a person with lymphoid cancer after treatment. These cells are present at levels undetectable by traditional microscopic examination (also called morphologic examination) of blood, bone marrow or a lymph node biopsy. Sensitive molecular technologies, such as the next-generation sequencing utilized by Adaptive Biotechnologies' clonoSEQ MRD test, are needed for reliable detection of very low levels of MRD.

About the clonoSEQ Process
Adaptive Biotechnologies' clonoSEQ process enables physicians to utilize sequencing-based minimal residual disease (MRD) detection as an aid to clinical decision making for patients with lymphoid cancers (blood cancers). With its ability to detect cancer cells at a level as low as one per one million white blood cells, the clonoSEQ MRD test is one to two orders of magnitude more sensitive than the other methods of MRD detection, such as ASO-PCR and flow cytometry. The clonoSEQ process was previously marketed as the ClonoSIGHT™ process by Sequenta, Inc., which was acquired by Adaptive Biotechnologies in January 2015.

MRD detection and quantification using the clonoSEQ process involves two steps that are easily integrated into patient care. In the first step, the clonoSEQ ID test, cancer cell DNA sequences are identified in a diagnostic sample. In the second step, the clonoSEQ MRD test, follow-up samples are screened for the previously identified sequences in order to detect residual disease. ClonoSEQ test results are generated in seven days using Adaptive Biotechnologies' CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory. These results are provided to the ordering physician in a simple, actionable report that shows a patient's MRD status and level, as well as MRD trends over time via a secure online portal.

About Adaptive Biotechnologies
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation is a platform-based, diagnostic-driven company that leverages NGS to profile T-Cell and B-Cell Receptors. This breakthrough enables in-depth characterization of the adaptive immune system, which is the primary defense against cancer. By incorporating immunosequencing into clinical care, Adaptive can enhance the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of cancer patients. For more information, please visit AdaptiveBiotech.com.

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SOURCE Adaptive Biotechnologies