Target-enhanced whole-genome sequencing (TE-WGS) shows clinical validity equivalent to commercially available targeted oncology panel

Abstract

Cancer poses a significant global health challenge, with increasing incidence rates demanding precise genomic testing for individualized treatment strategies. Targeted-panel sequencing (TPS) has improved personalized oncology but often lacks comprehensive coverage of crucial cancer alterations. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) addresses this gap, offering extensive genomic testing. This study demonstrates the potential medical application of WGS.MethodsThis study evaluates the power of target-enhanced WGS (TE-WGS), a clinical-grade WGS method sequencing both cancer and matched normal tissues. A cohort of forty-nine patients with various solid cancer types underwent both TE-WGS and TruSight Oncology 500 (TSO500), one of the mainstream TPS approaches currently used in the clinic.ResultsTE-WGS methods detected all the variants reported from TSO500 (100%, 498/498). A high correlation in the detection of variant allele fractions (VAF) was observed between the TE-WGS and TSO500 methodologies (r=0.977). Notably, within the pool of 498 variants commonly detected by both approaches, 223 variants (44.8%) were discerned within peripheral blood samples exclusively through the TE-WGS technique, suggesting their presence as constitutional variants inherent to the germline. Conversely, the remaining subset of 275 variants (55.2%) were not detected in peripheral blood using the TE-WGS method, signifying them as bona fide somatic variants. Further, TE-WGS provided accurate copy number profiles, fusion-genes, MSI- and homologous-recombination deficiency (HRD) scores, which were essential for clinical decision making.ConclusionTE-WGS proves to be a comprehensive approach in personalized oncology, matching the key biomarker detection capabilities of the established TSO500 panel. Additionally, TE-WGS uniquely identifies germline variants and genomic instability markers, offering additional clinical actions. Its adaptability and cost-effectiveness further underscore its clinical utility, making TE-WGS a valuable tool in personalized cancer treatment.