Advances in molecular technologies have deepened our understanding of cancer, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses, more effective targeted therapies, and improved survival rates across many cancer types. Over the past two decades molecular diagnostics have moved into a central and increasingly critical role across the oncology care continuum. Tumor profiling, minimal residual disease (MRD) tracking, and real-time therapy adaptation are now widely integrated into clinical practice, enabling more personalized care while supporting the management of cancer as a chronic condition. 1, 2 The evolving clinical demands of precision oncology have driven advancements in technologies such as quantitative PCR (qPCR), targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), enhancing their speed, sensitivity, and analytical depth. Each platform offers distinct strengths: qPCR provides rapid, cost-effective detection of known mutations; tNGS enables broader, multiplexed mutation profiling across dozens to hundreds of genes; and WGS delivers an unbiased, comprehensive view of the cancer genome, including rare or complex alterations. As these technologies mature, diagnostic assay developers must navigate complex decisions around platform selection, assay design, and reagent optimization—decisions that directly impact assay performance, regulatory approval, and how effectively they deliver accessible, cost-effective cancer diagnostics in both centralized and point-of-care settings. The rise of precision oncology is fundamentally reshaping how cancer is diagnosed and treated.
THE IMPACT OF PRECISION ONCOLOGY ACROSS CANCER CARE
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