Genetic tumor diagnostics provides the information basis for treatment decisions
Cancer arises from changes in genes that deregulate cell growth and cause cells to grow out of control. Genetic tumor diagnostics hence is a powerful tumor diagnostic tool as it detects predispositions for cancer, identifies existing diseases and gives insights into the disease mechanism for optimal treatment decisions.
A valid diagnosis improves the patient’s quality of life drastically. It provides clarity and guidelines for action to lower the risk of developing cancer or to detect the disease early. Based on the information gained, physicians who treat patients with cancer can determine the most effective therapy to increase the chances of recovery.
Genetic diagnostics should be integrated early into the diagnostic plan – because the right diagnosis is the basis for optimal management of cancer.
CancerPrecision®
Comprehensive diagnostics for targeted cancer treatment
CancerNeo®
Identify neoantigens for personalized cancer vaccine design
CancerDetect®
Highly sensitive detection of actionable variants from liquid biopsy with low tumor content
CancerEssential®
Evaluate the suitability of planned therapies for the most common tumor entities
Family risk assessment and prevention
Every fifth tumor develops due to a hereditary predisposition. Prevention is the most important measure in the fight against tumor diseases. Knowing predispositions and initiating appropriate early detection examinations are central components in preventing metastatic and late-detected disease progression. Genetic tumor diagnosis is especially important for persons with a family history of cancer as it assesses their risk of developing cancer.
Diagnostic Panel for Hereditary Tumor Diseases
Detect hereditary predispositions to cancer
Disease Prevention Panel
Understand genetic risk factors and plan health care
About Tumor Development
Tumors develop from cells as a consequence of mutations in genes. Mutations usually occur randomly and are typically corrected by the cell’s DNA repair systems. However, exposure to carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke or UV radiation increases the number of mutations. A not correctly repaired mutation can result in altered protein function, leading to dysfunction of cellular processes and possibly the beginning of cancer. Spontaneously obtained mutations are called somatic mutations. The genetic alterations initially drive the loss of growth control, the proliferation of cell clones with reduced mortality rate, and finally the distribution of tumor cells to distant organs (metastases). The somatic mutations acquired by tumors in the course of the disease are individual and differ not only between different cancer entities but also from patient to patient – every tumor is unique. Thus, cancer is a multifactorial and heterogeneous genetic disease.
NGS-guided Oncogenetics – a new era of cancer therapy
The individual set of tumor-specific mutations helps the tumor to survive, reduce sensitivity to certain treatments, and develop resistance against therapeutic agents. To choose a promising treatment strategy, a deep and accurate look into the molecular underpinnings of individual tumors is required. The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has initiated a new era in cancer therapy and is a driving force to change the future in personalized precision medicine. Through NGS analysis of genetic mutations, we can tailor the oncological treatments to each patient’s features and each cancer genomic alterations to maximize the curative effect, minimize damage to healthy tissues, and optimize resources (Morganti et al., 2020; Walter et al., 2020; Wu et al., 2020).
Tumorprogression
Knowledge
Webinar
Genetic tumor diagnostics – the information basis for treatment decisions
In this webinar recording, our specialists will explain the possibilities and limitations of molecular genetic tumor diagnostics. Saskia Biskup (MD., Ph.D.) and Stefan Griesbach (Ph.D.) will present current approaches in the field of precision oncology and show how genetic diagnostics can support you in determining the best therapy for your patients.
A Case from Our Daily Patient Care
Genetic tumor diagnostics can save lives
Genetic tumor diagnostics can save lives. Saskia Biskup (MD., Ph.D.) describes a case from daily patient care in which tumor diagnostics helped a patient for whom all previous therapies had failed. Exome sequencing revealed that the patient had a high tumor mutation burden and needed checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The treating physician initiated appropriate treatment based on our findings. It was very effective – today, the patient is doing well.