Genomic Sequencing Creates Precision Medicine for Cancer Patients

Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered that comprehensive genomic sequencing of all pediatric cancer patients is achievable and essential in the development of precision medicine.

In the study, 309 patients were offered whole genome and whole exome sequencing of germline DNA. Of those, whole genome, whole exome, and RNA sequencing of tumor DNA were carried out in 253 patients.

According to the data, 86 percent of patients were found to have at least one clinically significant variation in the tumor or germline DNA. This included variations associated with diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, or cancer predisposition. As a result, researchers estimated that 1 in 5 patients had clinically relevant mutations that would have gone unnoticed using typical sequencing methods.

Source: https://healthitanalytics.com/news/genomic-sequencing-creates-precision-medicine-for-cancer-patients