Plus Therapeutics Partners With Genomic Testing Cooperative To Expand CNSide Precision Oncology Platform

Plus Therapeutics, Inc. and Genomic Testing Cooperative (GTC) have announced a strategic collaboration to integrate GTC's next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology into the CNSide® cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assay platform. The partnership is expected to significantly expand the capabilities of CNSide by enabling comprehensive DNA and RNA profiling from a single CSF sample. This enhancement will allow the platform to analyze hundreds of clinically relevant biomarkers while combining circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration with advanced molecular testing in one integrated system.

The collaboration supports Plus Therapeutics' three-part strategy for central nervous system (CNS) oncology. This strategy includes the development of targeted radiotherapeutics led by REYOBIQ™ (rhenium Re186 obisbemeda), precision diagnostics through the CNSide CSF platform, and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis developed in partnership with Ephemeral Technologies. By combining these technologies, the company aims to improve the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of patients with metastatic CNS cancers.

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM), a serious complication affecting an estimated 5% to 10% of patients with metastatic solid tumors, represents a U.S. patient population of more than 100,000 cases each year. The CNSide CSF Tumor Cell Enumeration test recently received the American Medical Association's PLA code 0640U, which became effective on July 1, 2026. In addition, the CNSide CLIA-certified laboratory is enrolled with Medicare, while commercial insurance agreements currently provide coverage for approximately 126 million people in the United States. A recent health-economic analysis also indicated that earlier diagnosis and management using CNSide could reduce overall LM-related healthcare costs by around 40%.

The integration of GTC's sequencing technology is expected to align CNSide more closely with the updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) CNS Cancer Guidelines, which now recognize both CSF circulating tumor cell analysis and tumor-derived DNA testing as important components of patient evaluation. By combining tumor cell enumeration with comprehensive DNA and RNA profiling, the platform is expected to generate extensive longitudinal molecular data that can improve disease monitoring, support translational research, strengthen pharmaceutical collaborations, and enhance AI-based clinical analysis.

Russell Bradley, President and General Manager of CNSide Diagnostics, said the collaboration represents an important step in building a leading precision oncology platform for metastatic CNS disease. He noted that the addition of comprehensive molecular profiling will strengthen the clinical value of CNSide, expand its market opportunities, increase the value of each diagnostic test, and create a valuable data resource to support future research, payer evidence, and collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry.

Maher Albitar, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Genomic Testing Cooperative, said the partnership extends the company's expertise in cerebrospinal fluid testing by combining its cell-free DNA and RNA sequencing capabilities with CNSide's circulating tumor cell analysis. He added that the collaboration will help build one of the most comprehensive standardized molecular databases for cerebrospinal fluid, providing clinicians and researchers with deeper insights while supporting the growing role of advanced molecular biomarkers in CNS cancer diagnosis and treatment.