CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: In cancer treatment, it is no longer considered enough to know only which part of the body has the tumour. Scientists and doctors are also placing emphasis on understanding the genetic changes present in the tumour. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as an important technology in this direction. It can test several genetic changes present in cancer cells at the same time.
Through NGS, doctors can try to identify which gene alterations are present in a tumour and which of them may be linked to a specific medicine or targeted treatment. This can help make treatment selection more personalised, or based on precision medicine, for some patients. However, it is not necessary that NGS will find a change in every patient that directly provides the option of a targeted drug.
The use of gene-based testing in cancer treatment is also increasing in India. In 2026, a study of 180 patients at a cancer centre in North India identified several genetic changes through NGS. The study had the highest number of lung cancer patients, and treatment-linked alterations such as EGFR, MET and ALK were also found. Researchers described this as useful for personalised treatment strategies in India.
Tata Memorial Centre also said in a 2026 NGS-based training programme that this technology is now becoming part of practical use in cancer medicine. Along with tumour testing, work is also being done in areas such as liquid biopsy, circulating tumour DNA and monitoring of remaining cancer cells after treatment.
According to experts, NGS is not itself a treatment for cancer. Rather, it is a test that helps doctors understand the molecular nature of the disease and choose a suitable option from available treatment choices. Its need and use are decided on the basis of the type of cancer, the stage of the disease and the condition of the patient.
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