A targeted next-generation sequencing panel for identification of clinically relevant mutation profiles in solid

Kakoli Das1, Mandy Li Ian Tay2, Elena Yaqing Yong2

  • 1Department of Pathology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore. kaks23@yahoo.com.

Scientific Reports
|July 2, 2025
PubMed

Insights

A new oncopanel test for cancer genes offers high accuracy and speed. This targeted next-generation sequencing assay significantly reduces turnaround time for genomic analysis, improving timely patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) with multigene panels is crucial for cancer genomic analysis.
  • Outsourcing NGS assays leads to long turnaround times (approx. 3 weeks), delaying clinical decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate an efficient oncopanel for comprehensive cancer gene analysis.
  • To reduce the turnaround time for genomic profiling in cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Developed an oncopanel targeting 61 cancer-associated genes.
  • Validated the assay using next-generation sequencing on 43 diverse samples.
  • Evaluated performance metrics including repeatability, reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy.

Main Results:

  • The assay detected 794 mutations, including all 92 known variants.
  • Achieved high performance: 99.99% repeatability, 99.98% reproducibility, 98.23% sensitivity, and 99.99% specificity.
  • Reduced average turnaround time to 4 days, identifying actionable mutations in key cancer genes.

Conclusions:

  • The developed oncopanel is a sensitive, high-throughput assay suitable for routine clinical testing.
  • The significantly shorter turnaround time can enhance patient care through timely, personalized interventions.