[Clinical Application of Cancer Genome Diagnostics for Brain Tumors]

In Japan, two types of cancer gene panel tests have been covered by insurance since 2019, marking the start of the "first year of cancer genomic medicine". Cancer genomic medicine is a medical treatment in which a large number of genes are analyzed at once by next generation sequencing(NGS), mainly using cancer tissues, to reveal the genetic alterations in the patient's cancer so that the best treatment can be applied for each patient. In order to present actual treatment based on the results of the cancer gene panel test, it is necessary to prepare a report by an "expert panel", which is a group of multidisciplinary experts. Although the current percentage of patients who actually receive treatment is approximately 13% in total, it is expected to improv in the future. The number of clinical trials where brain tumor patients can participate is still small, but a certain number of patients are actually benefiting from these new drugs. We hoped that cancer genomic medicine for brain tumor patients will be actively promoted in the future.