Information for doctors – NextGen Oncology • MUDr. Luzbetak

Q: Do I receive assistance with the interpretation of the results?

For the analyses of Circulating Tumor Cells and Chemo / Biologic Sensitivity , we are happy to support you with the interpretation of the results for your first submissions. Our genetic analyses ( OmniThera® Expression Profiler & OmniThera® Panomics Profiler ) are very complex and extensive. Here, we offer you a detailed discussion of the findings with MUDr. Luzbetak, also together with your patient if desired.

Dear colleagues,

before becoming CEO of NextGen Oncology Group, I was a customer. Like many of you, as an oncology doctor, I treated many late stage cancer patients with limited options and little time.

When I started my practice, I collaborated with various diagnostics laboratories. I sent out probes and received reports but wasn’t always able to turn the insights into actionable therapeutic steps. It was a very painful process, not only for me as the treating physician but for my patients who needed to see results. One diagnostics provider was different, NextGen Oncology Group.

My entire practice and my patients came to rely on the companion diagnostics from NextGen. Not only because the diagnostics were a powerful tool to evaluate which therapeutic treatment options had the greatest outcome potential but because of the client relationship and trust they built with me. Prof. Dr. Bojar (who sadly passed away) and his team worked with me to understand the diagnostic reports, and how to apply them in my treatment regimen to see results for my patients.

In short, NextGen allowed me to become a better physician.

As the new CEO, I am committed to continuing that legacy to provide patients and their doctors with new hope through our companion diagnostics. With our committed and knowledgeable staff, we are standing by to support you and your practice to provide the best possible care for your patients. I invite you to try our diagnostics once to evaluate the benefits for yourself. I believe once you do, you will join the NextGen client partner circle.

MUDr. Martin Lužbeták, M.Sc.
CEO, NextGen Oncology Group

Patient-oriented, personalised diagnostics and innovative therapies.

Circulating Tumor Cells

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that detach from a primary tumor and travel through the bloodstream.

Our CTC analysis is a cost-effective, non-invasive method for detecting tumor cells and a proven tool for clinical diagnostics, monitoring recurrence, and effectively assessing therapy efficacy.

For CTCs from epithelial tumors (carcinomas), we use a real-time PCR test developed and validated by us for molecular quantification. This test procedure includes a prior enrichment of epithelial tumor cells using a method in which the CTCs are enriched via paramagnetic beads (Magnetic Cell Sorting). These beads are coated with antibodies against one of the most common surface antigens (EpCAM) of CTCs from epithelial origin (carcinomas).

Applications

A modern, practice-oriented blood test that can monitor treatment effectiveness and disease progression over time, including remission
The CTC test from EDTA blood is required for the analysis of chemo/biologic sensitivity

Test Requirements & Duration

💉 EDTA blood 🕐 5 working days

Logistics

Our sample collection kit contains everything necessary for the collection and shipment of blood samples via DHL Express.

Differential Chemo-/Biopharmaceutical Sensitivity (DCBS)

Due to the highly individual nature of a tumor, physicians can only guess whether a patient will respond to chemotherapy or to biopharmaceutical drugs. We can offer several diagnostics that have proven successful in determining which treatment has a greater chance to make a difference.

The ATP-TCA (tumor chemosensitivity assay), an ex vivo test, is one of them that can determine a possible chemo-/biopharmaceutical sensitivity. In the DCBS, the isolated tumor cells in a cell culture are treated with the same cytotoxics and biopharmaceuticals (alone or in combination with others) that are being considered for the patient’s treatment. The test uses the ATP indicator for living cells to measure to which degree the cancer cells have been destroyed by the drugs.

The treating physician (or the patient, respectively) receives a report with a overview of the potential substances for treatment.

Applications

Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in cell culture
Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of biologics and natural substances in cell culture
More than 40 chemotherapeutic agents and over 20 natural substances can be tested

Test Requirements & Duration

💉 EDTA blood 🧫 fresh tumor material 🕐 7 working days

Logistics

Our kit contains everything necessary for the collection and shipment of blood samples via DHL Express. The lead time for fresh tumor samples within Germany is 48 hours before a planned procedure. We contact the respective clinic and take care of the entire logistics.

OmniThera® Expression Profiler

The OmniThera® Expression Profiler is a gene expression analysis important for personalized tumor therapy that simultaneously measures the activity of more than 20,000 human genes (transcriptome), complemented by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry of genes that play a key role in important signaling pathways.

It offers a universally (independent of the type of tumor) applicable analytical platform for a variety of clinically highly relevant, gene activity-based analyses of tumor biology. The combination of universality and relatively low costs per gene provides oncologists with a wealth of valuable information not only for current therapy decisions but possibly also for future innovative targeted therapies.

The treating physician (or the patient) receives a comprehensive molecular medicine report with a critical evaluation and treatment recommendation.

Applications

It informs about the immune status of the tumor tissue, including the responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors, the response to various chemotherapeutic therapies, and natural substances
Furthermore, the assay is the cornerstone for the selection of individual cancer vaccine peptides at the transcriptome level

Test Requirements & Duration

🧫 FFPE / fresh tumor material 🕐 20 working days

Logistics

The lead time for the transport of fresh tissue or pleural effusions and ascites is 48 hours before a planned procedure in Germany. For FFPE, we contact the respective pathological institute and organize the shipment.

OmniThera® Panomics Profiler

The OmniThera® Panomics Profiler is our state-of-the-art contribution to oncological precision medicine and the treatment of tumor diseases.

It is a comprehensive molecular genetic all-in-one test that not only analyzes the activity of all more than 20,000 genes of the tumor but simultaneously registers therapeutically relevant mutations in cancer and tumor suppressor genes and much more.

Applications

Complete transcriptome analysis and immunohistochemistry of genes that play a key role in important signaling pathways
It informs about the immune status of the tumor tissue, including the responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors, the response to various chemotherapeutic therapies, and natural substances
Oncomine Tumor Mutation Load/Burden (TMB) Assay for the exact assessment of TMB (Mutations/Mb)
Oncogene Knowledgebase Report, a highly up-to-date report on worldwide clinical studies and relevant medications in relation to the patient’s individual genetic fingerprint

Test Requirements & Duration

🧫 FFPE / fresh tumor material 🕐 20 working days

Logistics

I would like to submit a sample. How does it work?

Instructions for submitting blood samples for analysis of circulating tumor cells and chemo/biologic sensitivity:

For these specialized analyses, we require a blood sample from the patient in EDTA tubes. The required blood volume varies depending on the examination to be performed and the number of substances to be tested. Detailed information can be found on the request forms.

How to easily submit blood samples for analysis:

Order one or more test kits using the form below, by email to praxis@nextgenoncology.de, or by phone (+49 211 909896-90). Each test kit includes EDTA tubes, materials for blood collection, and a request form.
Complete the request form together with the patient and select, if desired, the substances to be tested. Upon request, we will be happy to provide you with a digitally fillable PDF of the form.
Take the blood sample and return it to the test kit along with the completed request form.
For shipping within Germany, simply contact us; we will send you a shipping label and usually arrange for pickup within about 2 hours. When shipping from abroad, please send the sample to our laboratory by express shipping. IMPORTANT: For the tumor cells to remain viable, the sample must arrive at our laboratory no later than 48 hours after collection (TUE-FRI by 10 am).
Once the sample has been received by us, you will receive the analysis results within five to seven working days via our secure report server or by mail upon request.

Instructions for submitting tissue samples for genetic analyses (OmniThera® Expression Profiler & OmniThera® Panomics Profiler):

For our genetic analyses, we require fresh tumor tissue from a current surgery or biopsy or paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE block) from a previous excision. If surgery or biopsy is scheduled to take place in Germany, we will be happy to assist you in organizing the transport to our laboratory. Please contact us at least 48 hours before the planned procedure.

How to easily submit tissue samples for analysis:

Fresh tissue: For upcoming surgeries or biopsies, special test kits for tissue transport can be requested from us. These contain a special tube with a stabilizing solution and a request form. FFPE blocks: As a rule, FFPE blocks are stored by pathology departments for up to 10 years. If you inform us of the pathology where the tissue is stored, we will request the sample on your behalf. We offer this service worldwide.
For returns within Germany, we will be happy to coordinate the transport in cooperation with the responsible clinic or practice. For shipments from abroad, we ask that you send the sample by express to our laboratory. IMPORTANT: The sample should reach our laboratory no later than 4 days after surgery or biopsy (TUE-FRI by 10 am at the latest).
After receiving the sample, we will make the analysis results available to you within approximately 20 working days via our secure report server.

From which countries can samples be submitted?

You can submit samples for analysis worldwide. However, please note the required maximum shipping times for the analyses.

Do I receive assistance with the interpretation of the results?

For the analyses of Circulating Tumor Cells and Chemo / Biologic Sensitivity, we are happy to support you with the interpretation of the results for your first submissions.

Our genetic analyses (OmniThera® Expression Profiler & OmniThera® Panomics Profiler) are very complex and extensive. Here, we offer you a detailed discussion of the findings with MUDr. Luzbetak, also together with your patient if desired.

Contact us

If you need further information or would like to request an analysis, please contact us.

We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 09:00 am – 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm – 04:00 pm.

📞 +49 211 9098 9690
📧 praxis@nextgenoncology.de