Online Study of Molecular Composition for Personalized Cancer Treatment

In the realm of cancer research, a groundbreaking webinar series titled "Molecular Analysis for Precision Oncology ONLINE" is set to shed light on the transformative capabilities of these methods in personalised cancer treatments. The series, scheduled for three parts on 16th, 23rd, and 30th April 2024, will feature insights from nine leading experts in the cancer genomics field.

The first webinar, "Genomics in Cancer Diagnostics", will explore the role of genomics in cancer detection, diagnosis, and tumour characterisation. Speaker Elif Dagdan from the Center for Medical Genetics Bochum, Germany, will discuss the challenges and opportunities for implementing liquid biopsies into routine clinical diagnostics.

The second webinar, "Molecular Characterisation in Cancer Care", will focus on how molecular tools are being used to enable clinicians to monitor progression, predict relapse and metastasis, and change the course of clinical care. Katie Shepherd, a Clinical Specialist at Nonacus, will be among the speakers.

The third webinar, "Webinar 3: Precision Oncology Now and in the Future", is scheduled for Tuesday 30 April, 3pm BST/ 4pm CST/ 10am EDT. It will cover the future developments expected in the coming years in the field of precision oncology. Robert Beckman, a Professor of Oncology and of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics at Georgetown University Medical Center, will speak in the second talk of the third webinar, "Dynamic Precision Medicine: A New Approach to Therapy Resistance". Francesca Lessi, a Researcher at Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, will also join the discussion in the third talk of the third webinar.

The series will also delve into the potential of liquid biopsies in early cancer detection, patient stratification, and clinical decision making. Gareth Gerrard, a Clinical Scientist and Scientific Lead for Cancer Genomics at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, will be one of the speakers focusing on this topic.

Moreover, the webinar series will highlight the clinical utility and real-world application of molecular analysis techniques in precision oncology. By registering for one webinar in the series, attendees will automatically be registered for all subsequent webinars.

The comparative strengths of different molecular methods—qPCR, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS)—for precision oncology applications will be a key discussion point. Each method varies in sensitivity, throughput, cost, and data complexity, affecting its clinical utility depending on the oncology context.

The series will also emphasise the benefits of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP), typically using broad NGS panels, in tailoring treatments based on tumor-specific molecular alterations. Although benefits are modest in some heterogeneous patient populations, CGP increases targeted therapy use in cancers like non-small cell lung and colorectal cancer, without raising healthcare costs, illustrating its practical value in real-world settings.

Advanced Blood-based Assays, such as Caris Assure®, will also be discussed. These assays provide detailed molecular profiles from a single blood test, enabling early multi-cancer detection, accurate diagnostic pathway prediction, MRD monitoring, and therapeutic response tracking, significantly enhancing clinical decision-making.

Lastly, the series will showcase molecular oncology testing panels in clinical practice, including multi-gene targeted sequencing for solid tumors and cfDNA-based assays. These support diagnosis, prognostication, and therapy selection, particularly in cancers like colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer, with increasing guideline recognition.

In summary, molecular analysis techniques in precision oncology show substantial clinical utility by refining diagnostic accuracy, guiding targeted therapy decisions, enabling early detection and recurrence monitoring, and integrating advanced technologies like AI to offer more comprehensive, individualized cancer care in real-world clinical settings.

[1] Comparative analysis of qPCR, targeted NGS, and WGS in precision oncology applications with real-world assay examples [2] Evidence supporting CGP use to guide targeted therapy selection and its cost-effectiveness in advanced cancers [3] Validation of an AI-enabled, blood-based assay (Caris Assure®) with multifunctional diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive capabilities [4] Description of molecular oncology testing panels and their clinical roles in solid tumour evaluation [5] Simon Heeke is the Liquid Biopsy Translational Working Group Leader at the Department of Thoracic Head/ Neck Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center. [6] Thomas Kislinger is a Professor at the University of Toronto and will speak in the first talk of the third webinar, "Optimizing Urinary Proteomes as a Liquid Biopsy for Prostate Cancer".

In the upcoming "Molecular Analysis for Precision Oncology ONLINE" webinar series, Elif Dagdan from the Center for Medical Genetics Bochum, Germany, will discuss the implementation of liquid biopsies into routine clinical diagnostics.
The second webinar, "Molecular Characterisation in Cancer Care", features Katie Shepherd, a Clinical Specialist at Nonacus, who will speak about how molecular tools are used in clinical care to monitor progression, predict relapse, and change the course of treatment.
Gareth Gerrard, a Clinical Scientist and Scientific Lead for Cancer Genomics at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, will discuss the potential of liquid biopsies in early cancer detection, patient stratification, and clinical decision making.
The comparative strengths of qPCR, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for precision oncology applications will be a key discussion point in the webinar series.
The webinar series will highlight the benefits of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP), particularly in advanced cancers, demonstrating its cost-effectiveness and value in real-world clinical settings.
Advanced Blood-based Assays, such as Caris Assure®, will be discussed for their ability to provide detailed molecular profiles from a single blood test, enhancing clinical decision-making.
Simon Heeke, the Liquid Biopsy Translational Working Group Leader at the Department of Thoracic Head/ Neck Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, will be a speaker in the webinar series.
Thomas Kislinger, a Professor at the University of Toronto, will speak in the first talk of the third webinar, focused on optimizing urinary proteomes as a liquid biopsy for prostate cancer.
Molecular analysis techniques in precision oncology offer substantial clinical utility by refining diagnostic accuracy, guiding targeted therapy decisions, enabling early detection and recurrence monitoring, and integrating advanced technologies like AI to provide more comprehensive, individualized cancer care in real-world clinical settings.