Understanding the clinical implications of the evolution of breast cancers from primary to metastatic disease using next generation sequencing

Abstract

Precision oncology refers to the use of sophisticated assays to tailor therapy to an individual patient. The feasibility of implementing such a program in a comprehensive cancer centre in Australia is unknown. The utility of precision oncology also depends on understanding how genomic profiles may evolve over time and differ between tumours in the same patient. A precision oncology program called SEGMENT was designed and implemented in a single centre. The program was popular, recruiting well over the study period. Timely acquisition of samples for sequencing was suboptimal from external pathology providers, and proved increasingly expensive during the study period. Delivery of results in ..