The advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies is crucial for accelerating cancer identification and biomarker discovery, driving unprecedented innovation in cancer research. The field has already seen the positive impact that genomic approaches have made on precision medicine, including CAR T-cell therapies and targeted small-molecule inhibitors. The horizon is brimming with more potential breakthroughs, contingent on the collaborative efforts of researchers and genomic technology developers to pioneer novel methodologies.
The demand for cutting-edge cancer therapeutic tools has spurred a surge of disruptive cancer research solutions unified by a common theme: speed. The allure of faster turnaround times suggests quicker insights and potentially fewer sequencing requirements. But these disruptive solutions often overlook a critical element: the importance of high-quality, reproducible, and confident insights. These factors are especially important in a field where high-quality samples are limited and failure to replicate results can be costly and time consuming.
Should cancer researchers prioritize “fast and new” in NGS? Not without thoroughly evaluating its risks. When it comes to innovation in cancer research, a more holistic approach focused on providing the precision and expertise needed to confidently generate reproducible results remains indispensable. Providers that forge productive partnerships — with the cancer researchers they serve, as well as with fellow NGS innovators — will be uniquely positioned to empower their customers and help them accelerate the next wave of scientific breakthroughs.
Building Customized NGS Workflows
Speed alone isn’t enough. Creating flexible, automated workflows that optimize library preparation, hybridization capture, and analysis is key to better, more actionable insights. Optimization will inevitably accelerate the research process.
For example, experts at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) are advancing the development of NGS adapters. The company works with customers to facilitate the industrial manufacturing of high-quality oligonucleotides, including ultra-long sequences that allow for the development of hybridization capture technology for targeted NGS. These products enable researchers to zero in on genomic areas of interest, making it faster and easier for them to identify alterations involved in cancer development.
According to IDT VP/GM, global head of commercial Linda De Jesus, "IDT works shoulder-to-shoulder with the cancer research community to advance NGS techniques, often partnering with many technology providers to customize workflows to help solve labs’ biggest challenges."
In 2022, IDT acquired Archer NGS Assays, a portfolio of fully customizable solutions for identifying gene mutations and fusions in cancer. This portfolio provides researchers an end-to-end platform for DNA and RNA NGS that allows them to add targets to existing assays, identify low-frequency variants, and streamline their analysis.
For example, labs researching solid tumors can tap into flexible and specialized assays with Archer Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) solutions. With multiple panel content and genomic signature options, researchers can pick their targets of interest and adjust them quickly without the need to change established protocols. VariantPlex, FusionPlex, and custom gene DNA targets can be combined so researchers can identify single nucleotide variants in DNA, novel fusions, homologous recombination deficiency, and more.
In 2024, IDT enhanced its cancer research portfolio by partnering with software provider Molecular Health. Researchers can now pair the Archer Analysis secondary research assay platform with Molecular Health's tertiary variant annotation and reporting software to contextualize the data they’ve generated for both known and newly discovered variants.
Driving Cancer Discoveries
The quest to find more cancer biomarkers, including tumor-driving mutations and alterations, is driving the demand for advanced research approaches. Automated NGS workflows are empowering researchers with the ability to rapidly analyze data derived from whole genomes and transcriptomes. This can often be done with a single small specimen of tumor, tissue, or blood.
That’s important because high-quality specimens are often difficult for cancer researchers to secure. Biopsy research samples are preserved using processes that can degrade them, leaving very little left for researchers to probe. Efficient, automated workflows allow researchers to make the most of these precious samples.
"As a longstanding first-choice partner of major institutions, biotech and biopharma companies, we are committed to working with our customers and industry leaders to further evolve NGS technology and make advanced research techniques more accessible to cancer researchers in laboratories of all sizes and capabilities," said De Jesus. "NGS tools are rapidly improving, with increasing automation and innovations like artificial intelligence embedded into sequencing tools, yielding faster, more accurate results."
"Researchers are determined to implement innovative solutions to drive more breakthroughs in cancer research, paving the way for new therapeutic applications. But we will not sacrifice quality for speed," she added. "IDT will continue to lean on its scientific expertise and collaborative partnerships to fuel quality, customized solutions for the biotechnology industry now, and for years to come. When it comes to cancer research, the work our customers do demands nothing less."
Disclaimer: RUO — For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, IDT does not intend these products to be used in clinical applications and does not warrant their fitness or suitability for any clinical diagnostic use. RUO25-3328_00