Role of next-generation sequencing in revolutionizing healthcare for cancer management

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a transformative technology in oncology, revolutionizing cancer diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies. By providing comprehensive insights into the genetic landscape of tumors, NGS enables the identification of critical somatic and germline mutations, copy number variations (CNVs), and gene fusions. Over the past decade, advancements in NGS platforms have led to greater accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness, making it an integral part of cancer research and clinical diagnostics. Despite its widespread adoption, significant challenges remain, including the need for improved methods to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) and accurately profile tumor heterogeneity. This review explores the evolution of NGS technologies and their pivotal role in cancer biology, from early diagnostics to therapeutic guidance. It delves into the application of NGS in identifying CNVs and gene fusions, monitoring MRD, and the increasing relevance of targeted NGS and spatial genomics. Furthermore, the integration of spatial transcriptomics is highlighted as a frontier in understanding the tumor microenvironment. By addressing these critical aspects, this review provides a comprehensive overview of how NGS is shaping the future of cancer research and treatment, offering a complete overview of potential NGS applications in scientific and clinical oncology.