Molecular profiling and functional testing address different questions about the same tumor.
Molecular findings + functional testing + clinical context
Findings, supporting evidence, candidate options, and limitations.
Sequencing examines genetic alterations such as substitutions, insertions or deletions, copy-number changes, and relevant rearrangements or fusions. What can be detected depends on the assay and specimen.
Clinical question: are there alterations relevant to a treatment or trial discussion?
RNA analysis adds information about gene expression and, where assessed, fusion transcripts. Expression patterns can contribute to an interpretation of tumor pathways.
Clinical question: what additional biological activity is visible beyond DNA findings?
Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry assesses selected protein markers in tissue or cells. These findings can complement the genetic and expression results.
Clinical question: are relevant protein targets or markers detectable in the tested material?
Where suitable viable cells can be obtained, the laboratory evaluates their response to tested drugs. This is a functional measurement under laboratory conditions.
Clinical question: how do these sampled cells behave when exposed to a drug outside the body?
Prior treatments, other conditions, reported toxicities, and the available evidence help the clinical team interpret the findings. Product materials also describe pharmacogenomic information as an input to risk review where available.
Clinical question: which findings matter for this patient’s current care discussion?
Tumor tissue can support DNA, RNA, and protein assessment. Fresh viable tissue and a preserved tissue block are not interchangeable: living-cell assays require viable cells.
Blood may provide circulating nucleic acids and tumor-associated cells for the relevant analyses. A blood specimen does not necessarily reproduce every finding or capability of a tissue specimen.
The laboratory must confirm the appropriate specimen pathway and collection requirements before testing. An insufficient or unsuitable sample can limit the report or prevent an analysis.
Exacta-AI supports the organization and interpretation of integrated profiling information. The company describes combining case-specific findings with literature and clinical context for oncologist or molecular tumor board review.
Understand the AI componentCells tested outside the body do not reproduce all of a patient’s biology. Drug exposure, metabolism, the immune system, the tumor environment, and changes over time can affect clinical outcomes. A laboratory response does not establish that a drug will be effective or safe for the patient.
Read the circulating-cell study summary for the reported concordance findings and their limits.