Benefits of NGS in Oncology
As genomics-focused pharmacology begins to play a greater role in cancer treatment, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a valuable method for obtaining a deeper and more accurate look into the molecular underpinnings of individual tumors. With targeted therapies becoming the new standard of care in oncology, NGS-driven companion diagnostics are widely seen as driving the selection of treatments to optimize patient outcomes in the future.
Compared to traditional methods, NGS offers advantages in accuracy, sensitivity, and speed that has the potential to make a significant impact on the field of oncology. Because NGS can assess multiple genes in a single assay, it eliminates the need to order multiple tests to identify the causative mutation.
This multigene approach decreases the time to answer, providing a more economical solution and reducing the risk of exhausting precious clinical samples. In addition, NGS can provide high sensitivity, enabling the detection of mutations present at as little as 5% of the DNA isolated from a tumor sample.
NGS has the potential to change the future of oncology and advance the promise of personalized medicine. We invite you to learn more by examining the resources collected here.
Introduction to NGS in Oncology
Learn more about how NGS technology works and the advantages it offers over traditional methods in this in-depth introduction tailored to molecular pathologists.
Identifying RET Alterations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Jaclyn Hechtman, MD, Associate Attending Pathologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the relevance of RET alterations in non-small cell lung cancer and the pros and cons of different technical approaches to identify RET fusions and single-nucleotide variants.
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Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP)
This next-generation sequencing approach consolidates hundreds of cancer-related biomarkers, including different variant types, into a single assay. Explore the benefits and find out how it compares to other common cancer NGS methods.
Learn More About CGP
Oncology News and Interviews
A liquid biopsy study offers new hope for lung cancer patients
The Welsh government launches a program aimed at accelerating diagnosis and improving clinical outcomes
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The Changing Landscape of NGS Implementation in Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories
Key opinion leaders discuss the ongoing challenges and potential of NGS in oncology testing.
Read Interview
CGP validated in triple-negative breast cancer patients
Taiwanese study shows 500-gene panel detects actionable mutations and other critical biomarkers to open doors to advanced treatments
Read ArticleApplications of Precision Medicine
Learn about the growing uses of precision medicine in a broad range of areas, from cancer to genetic risk assessment, pharmacogenomics, reproductive health, and more.
More Cancer-Related NGS Methods
Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB)
NGS can help clinical cancer researchers estimate TMB, identify neoantigens, and study innovative therapies to boost the immune response.
ctDNA Sequencing
NGS offers the sensitivity and specificity that clinical researchers need to detect low levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the bloodstream.
Cancer Epigenetics
Explore the benefits of NGS and microarrays for analyzing altered methylation patterns and other epigenetic changes in cancer.
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Beating Stage IV Lung Cancer
AJ Patel had six months to live. He tells us how biomarker testing changed everything.
Francis deSouza Speaks at Aspen Ideas: Health
The President and CEO of Illumina shares his views on actions needed to bring genomics to patients.
Medical Genetics Education
Find educational resources about medical genetics and learn how genomic information can be used in clinical practice.
