What is the test for?
Cquence solid tumor fusion gene panel provides hopes of recovery and improves quality of life for cancer patients with solid tumors. Solid tumors are abnormal tissues that originate in organs or soft tissues that typically do not include fluid areas and cysts. Lung cancer, colorectal cancer and liver cancer, the top 3 cancers in Hong Kong, are examples of cancers with solid tumors.
How can this test help treat cancer?
Cquence solid tumor fusion gene panel is a precision medical test designed to determine 170 fusion genes, based on 20 cancer genes (eg ALK and ROS1) combining with other 94 partners. Finding out these fusion genes is important in making decisions and predicting responses for targeted-therapies and/or other treatments specific for the patient tested.
Conventionally, these “fusions” require a much longer time and complicated procedure to test. In addition, these tests can only examine one gene at a time. Cquence Solid Tumor Fusion Gene Panel can overcome this limitation by allowing multiple relevant fusion genes to be screened in one go. This saves valuable time and cost for the patient.
What are fusion genes and how are they related to cancer?
The major difference which separates a cancer cell from a normal cell is its uncontrolled cell growth with an exceptionally higher survival rate. These “enhanced” abilities are contributed by changes in the genetic information, or genes, of these cancer cells. Some of these genes, like ALK1 and ROS12, are activated when they fuse with other partnered genes.
Who should consider this test?
Patients who are suffering from a spectrum of cancers with solid tumor or patients who have received targeted therapy and failed to show signs of recovery are both advised to perform this test.
How are solid tumor samples obtained?
“Biopsy” is the surgical process which the doctor collects a section of the solid tumor tissue and sends it to the laboratory for analysis.
Test Specifications
What should I do if my test results are positive?
Please consult your physicians for professional advices.
- Soda, Manabu, et al. "Identification of the transforming EML4–ALK fusion gene in non-small-cell lung cancer." Nature 448.7153 (2007): 561-566.
- Rikova, Klarisa, et al. "Global survey of phosphotyrosine signaling identifies oncogenic kinases in lung cancer." Cell 131.6 (2007): 1190-1203.
- Ali, S. M., Ou, S. H., & He, J. Identifying ALK rearrangements that are not detected by FISH with targeted next-generation sequencing of lung carcinoma. J Clin Oncol, (2014): 32