Inocras Presents Real-World Evidence Supporting Whole-Genome HRD Profiling in Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Inocras, a bioinformatics-driven precision oncology company specializing in whole-genome sequencing and advanced genomic analytics, has announced that new clinical findings evaluating whole-genome sequencing-based homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) phenotyping have been accepted for online publication at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
The study, titled “Whole-genome HRD phenotyping as a predictor of PARP inhibitor benefit in first-line maintenance high-grade serous ovarian cancer,” highlights growing evidence that comprehensive whole-genome analysis may improve the identification of ovarian cancer patients most likely to benefit from PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy.
The research was conducted through a collaboration between Inocras and the gynecologic oncology team at Severance Hospital in South Korea, one of the company’s major clinical research partners. Investigators used CancerVision, Inocras’s whole-genome sequencing platform, to evaluate whether whole-genome HRD analysis could serve as a predictive biomarker for clinical outcomes in patients treated with PARP inhibitors.
High-grade serous ovarian cancer remains one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat gynecologic cancers. Although PARP inhibitors have significantly improved treatment outcomes for some patients, clinicians continue to face challenges in identifying which individuals are most likely to derive durable benefit from these therapies.
Traditionally, BRCA mutation testing and genomic scar-based HRD assessments have been used to guide treatment decisions. However, these methods may not fully capture the complexity of tumor biology, potentially leaving some patients unidentified who could still benefit from targeted therapy.
The new study suggests that whole-genome sequencing-based HRD phenotyping may offer a more comprehensive and clinically informative approach.
Researchers analyzed 84 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer who received PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy in either first-line or second-line settings. Investigators used matched tumor-normal whole-genome sequencing through the CancerVision platform to classify patients based on WGS-HRD status and evaluate correlations with treatment outcomes.
The results demonstrated a significant difference in progression-free survival between patients classified as WGS-HRD-positive and those identified as WGS-HRD-negative.
Across the overall study population, WGS-HRD-positive patients achieved a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 27.5 months, compared with just 12.0 months for WGS-HRD-negative patients. The findings suggest that whole-genome HRD phenotyping may be strongly associated with improved responsiveness to PARP inhibitor therapy.
The predictive value of WGS-HRD appeared especially pronounced in the first-line maintenance setting. Patients who were WGS-HRD positive and received PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy after initial treatment experienced a median progression-free survival of 44.2 months. In contrast, WGS-HRD-negative patients in the same setting achieved a median progression-free survival of only 10.0 months.
Researchers described this substantial difference as particularly encouraging because it suggests that whole-genome HRD assessment may help refine patient selection during earlier stages of treatment, when PARP inhibitors may offer the greatest long-term benefit.
Interestingly, the study found no significant survival difference between WGS-HRD-positive and WGS-HRD-negative patients in the second-line maintenance setting. Investigators believe this may indicate that the predictive value of whole-genome HRD phenotyping is strongest when PARP inhibitors are used earlier in the treatment course.
The study also produced important findings related to BRCA mutation testing. Researchers reported that 21.4% of patients were identified as WGS-HRD positive despite lacking detectable BRCA mutations.
This observation highlights a major limitation of relying solely on BRCA testing to determine treatment eligibility. According to the investigators, whole-genome HRD profiling may identify additional patients who could benefit from PARP inhibitor therapy even though they would not traditionally qualify based on BRCA mutation status alone.
The ability to detect these patients could potentially expand access to personalized treatment approaches and improve outcomes for a broader ovarian cancer population.
In addition to comparing WGS-HRD with BRCA testing, researchers also evaluated the performance of CancerVision’s WGS-HRD analysis against the conventional scarHRD method, a commonly used genomic scar-based approach for assessing HRD.
The findings indicated that WGS-HRD demonstrated superior predictive value for both clinical prognosis and responsiveness to PARP inhibitor therapy. Investigators believe this reinforces the potential advantages of whole-genome sequencing approaches over more limited genomic assays.
The study adds to a growing body of clinical evidence supporting CancerVision as a comprehensive precision oncology platform capable of providing clinically meaningful genomic insights across cancer types.
Inocras executives said the results represent another important step in advancing whole-genome sequencing as a practical clinical tool for precision medicine.
Jehee Suh, CEO of Inocras, said the findings provide important real-world evidence supporting the role of whole-genome HRD scoring in improving treatment decision-making for ovarian cancer patients.
According to Suh, CancerVision’s comprehensive whole-genome analysis platform has the potential to enhance how clinicians identify patients most likely to benefit from PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy. He emphasized that the data further demonstrate the value of integrating advanced genomic profiling into routine oncology care.
The study was led by Joonoh Lim, Physician Scientist at Inocras, in collaboration with Severance Hospital researchers. Lim said the first-line maintenance findings are especially important because they suggest whole-genome HRD assessment may refine existing BRCA- and genomic scar-based approaches currently used in clinical practice.
He explained that identifying patients who are most likely to experience durable benefit from PARP inhibitor therapy remains a major challenge in ovarian cancer management. According to Lim, the study contributes to growing scientific evidence supporting whole-genome HRD analysis as a potentially more effective predictive biomarker.
Lim also noted that prospective validation studies will be important for confirming the findings and further establishing the clinical utility of WGS-HRD assessment.
The growing interest in whole-genome sequencing reflects broader trends in precision oncology, where researchers and clinicians are increasingly seeking more comprehensive genomic tools capable of capturing the full complexity of tumor biology.
Unlike targeted gene panels, whole-genome sequencing analyzes the entire cancer genome, allowing investigators to identify structural alterations, mutational patterns, genomic instability, and other complex biomarkers that may influence treatment response.
Advances in sequencing technology and bioinformatics have accelerated the adoption of whole-genome approaches in cancer research, with companies like Inocras focusing on translating these technologies into clinically actionable tools.
The new ovarian cancer findings may be particularly relevant as PARP inhibitors continue to play a growing role in the treatment landscape. Drugs in this class have transformed care for many patients with BRCA-mutated and HRD-positive tumors, but patient selection remains a critical issue.
By improving the ability to predict which patients are most likely to benefit, whole-genome HRD profiling could potentially help optimize treatment strategies, reduce unnecessary toxicity, and improve long-term outcomes.
The collaboration between Inocras and Severance Hospital also highlights the importance of integrating genomic technologies into real-world clinical practice. Partnerships between biotechnology companies and major cancer centers are increasingly driving translational research efforts aimed at bringing precision medicine tools into everyday oncology care.
As whole-genome sequencing becomes more accessible and clinically validated, experts believe it may eventually become a routine component of cancer diagnosis and treatment planning across multiple tumor types.
For Inocras, the ASCO 2026 presentation represents another milestone in the company’s effort to position CancerVision as a next-generation genomic platform capable of supporting personalized treatment decisions through comprehensive whole-genome analysis.
The findings presented at ASCO may contribute to growing momentum behind the use of advanced genomic profiling to guide precision oncology strategies, particularly in ovarian cancer where improved biomarkers are urgently needed to maximize the benefits of targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors.
Abstract Details
Title: Whole-genome HRD phenotyping as a predictor of PARP inhibitor benefit in first-line maintenance high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
Format: Online publication / Online-only abstract
Abstract Number: e17608
Publication Date/Time: May 21 at 05:00 PM ET
Authors: Joonoh Lim, MD, PhD, Inocras Inc., San Diego, CA
Session/Category: Gynecologic Cancer
About CancerVision
CancerVision is Inocras’ whole-genome sequencing-based precision oncology platform designed to provide comprehensive genomic insights from matched tumor-normal analysis. By integrating genome-wide biomarkers, CancerVision supports clinical research and decision-making across cancer types, including applications in homologous recombination deficiency assessment.
About Inocras
Inocras is a bioinformatics-led company redefining precision health through whole genome data and proprietary analytics. Our oncology and rare disease platforms integrate comprehensive whole genome data with advanced automation to deliver curated and actionable insights at scale that accelerate discovery and diagnostics to improve patient care, bringing a real-world impact. Inocras operates a CLIA/CAP-certified laboratory and partners with leading hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions worldwide.
