Peer Reviewed Articles
Welcome to our catalog of Peer-Reviewed Articles for the NETest
Our NETest has been the subject of over 60 Peer-reviewed research projects with a wide variety of objectives: clinical utility, monitoring therapy, as a surgical biomarker. If you click one of the buttons below, you can filter our research by area of interest.
If you would like to discuss a research topic involving our NETest, PROStest or another molecular diagnostic, please contact Dr. Mark Kidd, our Scientific and Laboratory Director.
Neuroendocrinology – NETest Sensitivity and Specificity Validation Study
Secretory tumor markers traditionally measured in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are lacking sensitivity and specificity, and consequently they are of limited clinical utility.
The NETest: A meta-analysis of the accuracy of an mRNA blood-based neuroendocrine tumor biomarker
Analysis of ten studies indicates the NETest is an accurate (>95%) biomarker suitable for clinical use in NET disease management, exhibiting utility as an IVD to establish a diagnosis and monitor therapeutic efficacy.
Annals of Surgical Oncology – A Promising Biomarker for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours
ASO Author Reflections: Circulating Neuroendocrine Gene Transcripts (NETest): A Promising Biomarker for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours (PanNET)
New Multi-gene Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Prostate Cancer
The Wren PROSTest is a 27-gene blood biopsy biomarker delivering greater than 90% accuracy in diagnosing and monitoring prostate cancer.
NETest success in bronchopulmonary NET diagnosis and treatment monitoring
The NETest exhibited a 93% sensitivity and 89% specificity in identifying and differentiating lung malignancies including NSCLC from NETs.
Clinical Utility of Blood-based multi-transcriptome diagnostic for GI NETS
This study demonstrates sensitivity and specificity benefits of a blood-based multianalyte NET gene transcript measurement to detect GI tract cancer.
NETest is a reliable predictive marker for PRRT success
PPQ or PRredicTor, a subset of NETest analytes, deliver 94% accuracy in predicting response to Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy
Neuroendocrine Neoplasia Diagnosis: mRNA biomarker NETest exhibits 3-5 times greater accuracy than Chromogranin A
NETest, a multigenomic mRNA biomarker exhibiting ~99% accuracy in NEN disease identification; is far more accurate than CgA (19–33%) and should be considered the biomarker standard of care.
NETest demonstrates surgical and clinical utility
NETest proves superior to CgA as effective marker for imaging, solid tumor grading, post surgery disease status and residual tumor detection.
Circulating transcripts and gene cluster analysis predicts and defines PRRT efficacy
We developed a complementary diagnostic based on circulating gene expression measurements (Ome index) and grading which can be used to predict response to PRRT. The accuracy of this Prediction Quotient in this discovery cohort of 54 NETs was 94%...
Therapy: The role of liquid biopsies to manage and predict PRRT for NETs
NET patients are increasingly treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Somatostatin receptor expression evaluation cannot predict who will respond to therapy. But research indicates NETest PPQ can predict PRRT response.
PRRT genomic signature in blood for prediction of 177 Lu-octreotate efficacy
We validated the PRRT Prediction Quotient (PPQ) as a complementary diagnostic in two different PRRT cohorts. The validation cohort prediction accuracy was 95%; significantly more predictive than either grade (70%) or elevated chromogranin A (50%).
Blood measurements of Neuroendocrine Gene Transcripts Defines the Effectiveness of Surgical Resection and Ablation Strategies
Surgery significantly reduced NETest levels consistent with removal of the source of the circulating gene expression. In those with surgical cures (NED – no evidence of disease), elevated levels after surgery predicted disease recurrence.
Blood Neuroendocrine Gene Transcript Measurement Utility in BPNET Diagnosis, Surgical Resection and Disease Progression Evaluation
Current biomarkers used in broncopulmonary neuroendocrine tumor management are single analytes and have a low utility, e.g., CgA (Chromogranin A) or NSE (neuron specific enolase). Blood NET gene levels accurately identified BPNETs (100%) and differentiated these from controls, benign and malignant lung disease.
Circulating Transcript Analysis (NETest) in GEP-NETs Treated With Somatostatin Analogs Defines Therapy
Early and precise delineation of therapeutic responses are key issues in NEN/tumor management. Imaging is currently used but exhibits limitations in sensitivity and specificity. NETest values (80 –100%) were more accurate and occurred at a significantly earlier
time point than CgA and predicted SSA treatment response.
Circulating transcripts and gene cluster analysis predicts and defines therapeutic efficacy of PRRT in neuroendocrine tumors
We evalutated the NETest prior to PRRT, during therapy and at 3 and 6 months after therapy in 54 177Lu-treated GEP-NET. The NETest accurately correlated with standard morphologic and functional imaging and therefore with treatment response and outcome of therapy.
NET blood transcript analysis defines the crossing of the clinical Rubicon: when stable disease becomes progressive
Time prior to disease progression identified by imaging. A rise in NETest >70% occurred a median 1.62 years before imaging confirmation of tumor progression (failure of therapy). A rise in NETest >80% occurred a median 0.76 years before imaging confirmation of tumor progression (failure of therapy).
Assessment of NETest Clinical utility in a US Registry-based study
Relationship between NETest score and clinical management; Blood NETest is an accurate diagnostic and can
be of use in monitoring disease status and facilitating management change in both watch-and-wait and treatment
cohorts.
Multianalyte PCR blood test outperforms single analyte ELISAs for neuroendocrine tumor detection
A critical requirement in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) management is a blood biomarker test that is sensitive, specific and reproducible. Recent research indicates that NETest, a 51 panel multigene blood transcript analysis, is significantly more sensitive and efficient (>93%) than any single analyte assay (CgA, PST or NKA) for NET detection in a prospectively collected age and sex matched sample set of NETs and controls.
A PCR blood test outperforms chromogranin A in carcinoid detection and is unaffected by PPIs
A critical requirement in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) management is a sensitive, specific and reproducible blood biomarker test. Research shows NETest was >92% accurate, while CgA was 76% accurate, PST 63% accurate and NKA 39% accurate.
The clinical utility of a novel blood-based multi-transcriptome assay for gastrointestinal tract NET diagnosis
This study demonstrates that a blood-based multianalyte NET gene transcript measurement of well-differentiated small intestinal and pancreatic NET disease is sensitive (94-98%) and specific, and outperforms the current monoanalyte diagnostic strategy of plasma CgA (52%) measurement.
The clinical utility of circulating neuroendocrine gene transcript analysis in well-differentiated paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas
PPGLs exhibit variable malignancy, which is difficult to determine by histopathology, amine measurements or tissue genetic analyses. Circulating NET transcript analysis is positive (100% diagnostic) in well-differentiated PCC/PGL, scores were elevated in progressive disease irrespective of mutation or biochemical activity and elevated levels were prognostic.
Evaluating a molecular liquid biopsy for bronchopulmonary/lung carcinoid diagnosis
No effective blood biomarker exists to detect and clinically manage bronchopulmonary (BP) neuroendocrine tumors (NET). This research evaluates the blood-based 51 NET-specific transcript set for diagnosis, monitoring and evaluating clinical performance metrics in BPNETs.
Blood Neuroendocrine Gene Transcript Measurement Utility in BPNET Diagnosis, Surgical Resection and Disease Progression Evaluation
Current biomarkers used in broncopulmonary neuroendocrine tumor management are single analytes and have a low utility, e.g., CgA (Chromogranin A) or NSE (neuron specific enolase). Blood NET gene levels accurately identified BPNETs (100%) and differentiated these from controls, benign and malignant lung disease.
The Identification of Gut Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease by Multiple Synchronous Transcript Analysis in Blood
We developed a multi-transcript molecular signature for PCR-based blood analysis. NEN transcripts were identified by analysis of 3 microarray datasets and examined in 130 blood samples. Gene-based classifiers detected NENs in independent sets with high sensitivity (85-98%) and specificity (93-97%).
Gut Neuroendocrine Tumor Blood qPCR Fingerprint Assay: Characteristics and Reproducibility
We have developed a PCR-based tool that measures a 51-gene panel for identification of gastro-enteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) in peripheral blood. This manuscript assesses the robustness (performance metrics) of this tool with a specific focus on the effects of individual parameters including collection.
Blood and Tissue NET Gene Cluster Analysis correlate, define Hallmarks and Predict Disease Status
This research demonstrates that expression of genes in the NETest captured the biology of NET neoplasia, and that integrating these measurements of circulating gene expression could accurately define clinical status. Based on these data, which indicate that measurement of circulating gene expression is clinically informative, we have built an algorithm – the NETEst – that not only accurately diagnoses GEP–NETs but also provides a measure of their biological activity.