WGS/WES-RNAseq compared to targeted NGS in oncology: is there something to unlock?

Cancer panel designs focus on identifying specific genes or mutations relevant to cancer diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment indications. There is an extensive array of gene panel kits in use today within cancer research and diagnostics, each with variations in the genes and target regions they cover. The relatively small size of these target regions allows for deep coverage, ranging from several hundred to several thousand-fold. High coverage, achievable through targeted NGS, enables more flexible requirements for the purity of tumor samples. Various centers might employ different kits from various manufacturers, and the use of cancer-specific panels or custom panels is also common. However, there is currently no universally recognized "gold" standard for targeted sequencing methods within the community.