[Genomics and progress in oncology]

Genomics and genetics are becoming pillars of clinical research, allowing certain diseases to be understood at the molecular level and leading to improved treatments. Successful genetic analyses in the clinical oncological setting depend on the quality of the samples collected. At clinical sites, attention must be paid to the steps taken prior to analysis, and to the fragility of the molecules to be tested. The development of a standard procedure specifically adapted to the identification and validation of biomarkers through genomics requires an understanding of the different technologies used at each time point, from the analysis to the data processing, and the implication of personnel at all levels: the health care centers, the biotech companies, and/or the pharmaceutical industries.