With around 3,755 young people affected each year in the UK, leukaemia is the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer.
Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the University of Cambridge have found that whole genome sequencing (WGS) could improve clinical care for children with cancer.
Published in Nature MedicineStudies have shown that cutting-edge genomic testing can provide more benefits than all other current tests combined and improve care management in real time.
Around 3,755 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, with the most common childhood cancers including lymphoma, muscle and bone cancer, neuroblastoma and leukaemia, which is the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer.
WGS is a single test that provides a complete read of a tumor’s entire genetic code, identifying all cancer-causing mutations.
For the first time, researchers assessed the impact of using WGS in current NHS practice through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service in 281 children with suspected cancer at two childhood cancer centres in England for solid tumours and leukaemia.
After analysing clinical and diagnostic information, the research team found that cancer sequencing could provide all the benefits of current standard testing, but also provide new insights that could improve immediate clinical care for 7% of children.
Furthermore, genomic sequencing provided additional information that, in 29% of cases, enabled clinicians to better understand an individual child’s tumor and guide future treatment decisions.
The researchers conclude that WGS can provide additional, relevant data on childhood cancer and reduce the number of tests needed; if shown to be economically viable, they suggest it could be beneficial for children with cancer as an alternative to the multiple tests currently used by the NHS.
Lead author Dr Jack Bertram, from Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and North Thames Genomic Medicine Service, said: “We hope this study really shows why WGS should be offered as part of routine clinical care for all children with suspected cancer.”
