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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Alastair GreystokeORCiD, Professor Deborah TweddleORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© Crown 2025.Background: The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) Network supports UK-wide access to experimental cancer therapies, many of which require specific genomic alterations. This study aimed to develop expert consensus on essential genes for a pan-cancer sequencing panel, involving subject matter experts (SMEs) from the ECMC Network and the pharmaceutical industry. Methods: A pilot with 8 SMEs graded 526 genes, refining the list to 210. A three-round Delphi process was then used, with SMEs iteratively evaluating each gene. In the final round, SMEs also assessed the inclusion of tumour mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and mutation types (structural variations, copy number variations, and/or fusions). Results: Consensus was reached on a final panel of 99 genes applicable across multiple cancers. High agreement was also achieved for including TMB, MSI, and screening for structural variations, copy number variants, and fusions. The panel is intended for both adult and paediatric tumour types. Conclusions: This consensus-based gene panel offers a standardised approach to pan-cancer genomic screening. It supports harmonised diagnostics and could improve patient access to personalised therapies and research trials across clinical and NHS settings.
Author(s): Phillips R, Basu B, Butt Z, Beloueche M, Cook N, Crabb SJ, Greystoke A, Hargrave D, Jones R, Kureeman MY, Lopez J, McKeeve C, Meissner M, O'Carrigan B, Parkes EE, Ronghe M, Roxburgh P, Sarker D, Savage KI, Shaw PHS, Symeonides S, Tweddle DA, Vedi A, Walter HS, Zabkiewicz J, Middleton GW, Beggs AD
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Journal of Cancer
Year: 2025
Pages: epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 08/11/2025
Acceptance date: 23/10/2025
Date deposited: 27/11/2025
ISSN (print): 0007-0920
ISSN (electronic): 1532-1827
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6
Data Access Statement: The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study comprise aggregate Delphi survey responses from academic experts. These data are not publicly available due to the confidential nature of expert responses and the terms of participant consent, but anonymised data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
PubMed id: 41206382
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