Guardant Health Showcases Broad Liquid Biopsy Research Portfolio at ESMO Congress 2026
Guardant Health, a precision oncology company specializing in blood-based cancer testing and genomic analysis, has announced that it and its research collaborators will present 25 scientific abstracts, including five rapid oral presentations, at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026. The event is scheduled to take place from October 23 to 27 in Madrid, Spain, bringing together oncology researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals to discuss developments in cancer diagnosis, treatment and patient management.
The presentations will highlight advances in liquid biopsy technology, methylation-based circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring and precision oncology research across lung, colorectal and gastric cancers. The studies cover several important areas of cancer care, including tissue-free minimal residual disease (MRD) surveillance, treatment response assessment, genomic resistance mechanisms and the identification of patients who may benefit from specific treatment strategies.
The breadth of the research reflects the growing role of liquid biopsy technologies in oncology. By analyzing cancer-associated genetic material circulating in the bloodstream, these technologies can provide information about a tumor without always requiring a new tissue biopsy. Depending on the clinical setting and the test used, liquid biopsy may help researchers evaluate molecular changes, monitor treatment response and investigate why some patients develop resistance to cancer therapies.
Guardant Health’s ESMO Congress 2026 program includes research conducted by the company as well as studies led independently by academic institutions, industry collaborators and public-private research partners using its technologies or real-world data. This participation demonstrates the expanding use of blood-based genomic testing across the oncology research community.
Helmy Eltoukhy, chairman and co-CEO of Guardant Health, said the company would showcase how its InfinityAI platform is advancing its portfolio, strengthening the clinical relevance of its data and delivering value to patients, healthcare professionals and biopharmaceutical partners.
The company also plans to use the congress as an opportunity to engage with the international oncology community and discuss how its diagnostic technologies and research programs may contribute to the development of more personalized cancer care.
Liquid Biopsy and the Advancement of Precision Oncology
Precision oncology focuses on understanding the molecular characteristics of an individual’s cancer to help guide treatment decisions. Traditional approaches often rely on tissue biopsies, imaging studies and clinical assessments. Although tissue analysis remains important, obtaining tumor tissue can sometimes be challenging because of the tumor’s location, the patient’s condition or the practical limitations of repeated biopsies.
Liquid biopsy offers another way to investigate cancer-related molecular information by analyzing blood or other bodily fluids. One important target is circulating tumor DNA, which consists of fragments of DNA released into the bloodstream by cancer cells.
Testing ctDNA can help researchers identify cancer-associated genetic alterations and investigate changes that occur during treatment. In selected settings, it can also support research into minimal residual disease, a term describing cancer that may remain in the body after treatment but is not readily detectable using conventional clinical methods.
Guardant Health’s research program at ESMO Congress 2026 includes studies examining how ctDNA measurements and methylation-based approaches may contribute to treatment monitoring and risk assessment.
Methylation refers to chemical modifications to DNA that can influence gene activity and provide information about the biological characteristics of cells. Patterns of DNA methylation can differ between normal tissues and cancer, creating opportunities for researchers to study tumor-associated signals in blood samples.
These methods may complement conventional genomic analysis by providing additional information about tumor biology. However, their clinical usefulness depends on the specific test, cancer type, disease stage and treatment setting. Findings from individual studies must be interpreted according to their design and validation status.
The research presented at ESMO is expected to contribute further evidence about the potential applications and limitations of these technologies.
Key Research Presentations at ESMO Congress 2026
The company’s announced research program covers multiple cancer types and treatment strategies. Five highlighted studies illustrate how blood-based testing is being investigated in treatment selection, disease monitoring and resistance analysis.
1. Gastric Cancer Research Examines FGFR2 Amplification
One rapid oral presentation, abstract 283RO, will examine bemarituzumab treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer according to fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) amplification status.
The research is associated with the FORTITUDE study and investigates whether FGFR2 amplification can help identify a subgroup of patients who may be more responsive to treatment.
FGFR2 is involved in cellular signaling pathways that regulate growth and development. In some cancers, amplification of the FGFR2 gene can contribute to abnormal signaling and tumor progression. Identifying this molecular alteration may therefore be relevant to the investigation of targeted treatment strategies.
Bemarituzumab has been studied as a targeted therapy directed against FGFR2b, a specific form of the receptor. Research into biomarkers such as FGFR2 amplification can help investigators understand which patient populations may be more likely to benefit from a particular treatment.
The presentation is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, during the 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. session. The presentation itself is scheduled for 5:19 p.m. to 5:24 p.m. in Almeria Auditorium, Hall 9.
The findings may contribute to the continuing evaluation of biomarker-guided treatment approaches in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. However, the significance of the results will depend on the study data and the strength of the evidence supporting the biomarker’s predictive value.
2. ctDNA-Guided Treatment Intensification in EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer
Abstract LBA73 will investigate whether circulating tumor DNA can help identify patients with untreated advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer who may benefit from intensified first-line treatment.
The study, known as PACE-LUNG, is a multicenter Phase II clinical trial examining additional chemotherapy for patients whose plasma samples continue to show EGFR-mutant ctDNA at Week 3 after starting first-line osimertinib.
Osimertinib is a targeted therapy used in specific forms of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. Although targeted treatments can provide meaningful benefits, patients may respond differently, and some tumors develop resistance or continue to show signs of molecular activity during treatment.
The persistence of ctDNA after treatment begins may provide an indication that cancer-associated molecular material remains detectable in the bloodstream. Researchers are investigating whether this information can help distinguish patients who may need a different or more intensive treatment approach from those who are responding adequately.
PACE-LUNG explores the possibility of using an early molecular signal to inform treatment strategies before conventional clinical assessments alone provide a complete picture of response.
The rapid oral presentation is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:35 a.m., within the 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. session in Almeria Auditorium, Hall 9.
Because the study is a Phase II investigation, its findings will need to be interpreted in light of its design, patient population and clinical outcomes. ctDNA-guided treatment intensification remains an area of research, and further evidence is needed to establish how such strategies should be incorporated into routine clinical practice.
3. Investigating Resistance and Treatment Response With Lorlatinib
Another rapid oral presentation, abstract 2636RO, will examine mechanisms of resistance and predictors of early progression or long-term response to lorlatinib in patients included in the CROWN study.
Lorlatinib is a targeted therapy used in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Although many patients can benefit from ALK-directed treatment, resistance mechanisms and differences in tumor biology can influence how long a treatment remains effective.
The research investigates whether baseline genomic complexity and changes observed during treatment through methylation-based tissue-free assays can help identify patients at risk of early disease progression.
Genomic complexity refers to the range and combination of molecular alterations present in a tumor. Understanding these alterations may help researchers investigate why certain tumors respond differently to targeted therapies.
Serial blood-based testing can also provide information about molecular changes over time. By comparing results obtained at different stages of treatment, researchers may be able to investigate how tumor-associated signals evolve and whether those changes correlate with clinical outcomes.
The findings could help clarify the potential role of tissue-free testing in treatment monitoring and resistance research. However, these methods require appropriate clinical validation before being relied upon to make individual treatment decisions.
The presentation is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9:05 a.m. to 9:10 a.m., during the session running from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Almeria Auditorium, Hall 9.
4. Studying Resistance During Anti-EGFR Rechallenge in Colorectal Cancer
Guardant Health will also highlight research involving serial Guardant360 Liquid testing in a Phase II study conducted with MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The study, identified as poster 4403P, examines clonal and subclonal resistance during anti-EGFR rechallenge in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Anti-EGFR therapies target the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, which plays a role in cellular growth and signaling. These treatments are appropriate for selected patients with colorectal cancer, depending on the molecular characteristics of their tumors.
In some patients, resistance-associated alterations emerge during treatment. The molecular composition of a tumor can change over time, meaning that a treatment that was previously effective may become less effective as resistant cancer cell populations develop.
Rechallenge strategies involve considering the reuse of a previously administered treatment after an intervening period or different therapy. Determining whether a patient may benefit from rechallenge requires an assessment of the tumor’s current molecular characteristics and treatment history.
The research examines whether serial liquid biopsy testing can help distinguish genuine changes in tumor resistance from apparent changes associated with fluctuations in ctDNA levels.
This distinction is important because ctDNA concentrations can vary, potentially affecting the detection and interpretation of molecular alterations. Repeated testing may provide a more detailed picture of the evolving tumor profile than a single sample.
The poster is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, during the 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. session.
The research could contribute to improved patient selection for anti-EGFR rechallenge by helping investigators better understand resistance patterns. The clinical implications will depend on the results and the extent to which the findings are validated in additional patient populations.
5. Minimal Residual Disease Research in Resectable Stage III Lung Cancer
Poster 2566P will present an exploratory analysis examining postoperative minimal residual disease and pathological complete response in patients with resectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer who received perioperative nivolumab in the NADIM II study.
Pathological complete response refers to the absence of detectable residual cancer in the examined surgical tissue following treatment, according to the relevant pathological criteria.
Minimal residual disease testing investigates whether molecular evidence of cancer remains detectable after treatment, even when conventional assessments may not identify visible disease.
The study’s reported findings indicate that pathological complete response was associated with MRD negativity and favorable five-year survival outcomes.
Among patients who did not achieve pathological complete response, MRD status also appeared to provide useful information. Patients with negative MRD results had favorable long-term outcomes, while patients with detectable MRD represented a higher-risk group with early recurrence.
These findings highlight the potential value of combining pathological assessment with blood-based molecular testing when evaluating treatment response and recurrence risk.
The ability to identify patients who may have a greater likelihood of recurrence could eventually support research into more individualized follow-up strategies or additional treatment approaches. Nevertheless, the study is described as exploratory, and MRD results should not automatically be treated as a substitute for established clinical assessments.
The poster is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026, from noon to 12:45 p.m.
Public-Private Partnerships Expand Research and Diagnostic Access
Beyond its individual research presentations, Guardant Health is emphasizing its public-private partnerships with healthcare institutions and cancer centers across Europe.
Since 2020, the company has established partnerships with institutions including The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Spain and Policlinico Gemelli in Italy.
These collaborations are intended to support the localization of advanced diagnostic testing, generate clinical and economic evidence, and help expand reimbursement and adoption of diagnostic technologies.
Local validation can be important when introducing diagnostic tests into different healthcare systems. Testing pathways, clinical practices, regulatory requirements and reimbursement arrangements vary across countries, making it necessary to evaluate how technologies perform and fit within local care environments.
Public-private collaborations can help institutions investigate these factors while building clinical experience with new testing approaches.
Guardant Health says these partnerships support access to clinical-grade testing similar to testing administered in the United States, with local validation contributing to research, diagnostic workflows and access to targeted treatments.
The partnerships also reflect a broader challenge facing precision oncology: developing a diagnostic technology is only one step toward wider clinical use. Healthcare systems must also evaluate clinical utility, establish appropriate workflows, train professionals and determine how testing will be funded.
Evidence from collaborative research may help inform those decisions, although reimbursement and adoption ultimately depend on the relevant healthcare authorities, payers and clinical institutions.
InfinityAI and the Future of Cancer Research
Guardant Health’s ESMO announcement also highlights InfinityAI, which the company describes as an important component of its efforts to advance its portfolio and strengthen the clinical relevance of its data.
The company expects its research and technology programs to support patients, healthcare professionals and biopharmaceutical partners through improvements in cancer testing, treatment monitoring and precision medicine research.
As cancer therapies become more targeted, the need for accurate molecular information is increasing. Researchers and clinicians are seeking ways to identify relevant biomarkers, monitor treatment response and understand resistance as tumors evolve.
Liquid biopsy technologies may contribute to these objectives by enabling repeated sampling and molecular analysis without requiring a new tissue biopsy for every assessment. Their value, however, varies according to the cancer type, clinical question and sensitivity of the specific test.
The 25 abstracts at ESMO Congress 2026 provide a platform for examining these opportunities across multiple tumor types and treatment settings.
The participation of academic institutions, industry collaborators and public-private partners also demonstrates how cancer research increasingly involves collaboration among diagnostic companies, healthcare providers, research centers and drug developers.
Advancing the Role of Liquid Biopsy in Cancer Care
Guardant Health’s participation in ESMO Congress 2026 highlights the expanding scope of liquid biopsy research in precision oncology. Across 25 abstracts, including five rapid oral presentations, the company and its collaborators will examine the potential role of ctDNA analysis and methylation-based technologies in cancer monitoring, treatment response assessment and resistance research.
The highlighted studies address several important clinical questions, from identifying patients who may benefit from targeted treatment strategies to evaluating molecular indicators of recurrence risk after surgery.
Research involving gastric cancer, EGFR-mutant lung cancer, lorlatinib resistance, colorectal cancer rechallenge and postoperative MRD illustrates the range of applications being investigated.
At the same time, the findings must be interpreted according to the design and maturity of each study. Exploratory results and early-phase trials can generate important evidence, but additional validation may be required before they can support routine clinical decisions.
Through its diagnostic platform, research collaborations and European public-private partnerships, Guardant Health is seeking to strengthen the evidence base for blood-based cancer testing and support the development of more personalized approaches to oncology care.
The presentations in Madrid will provide an opportunity for the oncology community to assess the latest findings and discuss how liquid biopsy technologies may contribute to future advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment monitoring and patient management.
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