Optimizing Clinically Actionable Biomarker Detection in Advanced Cancers by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Panel and Specimen Type

This study analyzed 82 advanced cancer cases to compare how different NGS panels and specimen types (tumor tissue vs. ctDNA) affect biomarker detection. Results showed that hybrid-capture panels detect more variants, especially in high ctDNA fraction cases, while tissue testing remains crucial when ctDNA is low. ctDNA testing also better captures tumor heterogeneity. Choosing the right NGS strategy depends on tumor type, ctDNA levels, and clinical context.