# Genomic profiling

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/genomic-profiling/  
OnCo record `genomic-profiling` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Reading the DNA (and sometimes RNA) of a tumour, usually with a panel of a few hundred genes, to list its mutations, fusions and amplifications and match them to approved drugs or trials. Guidelines now require it before first-line treatment in lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer, though in several cancer types most tumours still show no actionable finding.

## Summary

Most clinical profiling uses a targeted panel of a few hundred cancer-relevant genes sequenced from a biopsy or from blood (liquid biopsy); comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) reports mutations, amplifications, fusions, tumour mutational burden and microsatellite status in one assay. The result is matched to approved drugs, trials and resistance mechanisms, ideally in a molecular tumour board, and guidelines now require testing before first-line treatment in several cancers. Limits include tumours with no actionable finding (still the majority in many types), variants of uncertain significance, sampling one spot of a heterogeneous tumour, and unequal access.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-09
- Also known as: genomic testing; genomic test; genomic tests; molecular profiling; molecular testing; molecular test; tumour sequencing; tumor sequencing; tumour profiling; tumor profiling; gene panel; gene panels; panel testing; panel sequencing; genotyping; genotyped; mutation testing; sequenced; sequencing; molecular tests

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_genome_sequencing
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_genome_sequencing

## Connected records

- terms: [Adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/terms/adenocarcinoma/), [Biomarker](https://onco.cc/terms/biomarker/), [Biopsy](https://onco.cc/terms/biopsy/), [Companion diagnostic](https://onco.cc/terms/companion-diagnostic-term/), [DNA](https://onco.cc/terms/dna-term/), [Driver mutation](https://onco.cc/terms/driver-mutation/), [HER2 and genomic testing for biliary cancer on the NHS](https://onco.cc/terms/genomic-testing-biliary-uk/), [Mutation](https://onco.cc/terms/mutation/), [Next-generation sequencing (NGS)](https://onco.cc/terms/ngs/), [Targeted therapy](https://onco.cc/terms/targeted-therapy-term/), [Variant allele frequency (VAF)](https://onco.cc/terms/vaf/), [Variant of uncertain significance (VUS)](https://onco.cc/terms/vus/)
- technologies: [Comprehensive genomic profiling](https://onco.cc/technologies/cgp/), [Liquid biopsy (ctDNA)](https://onco.cc/technologies/liquid-biopsy/), [RNA sequencing & expression profiling](https://onco.cc/technologies/rna-seq/), [Whole-exome & whole-genome sequencing](https://onco.cc/technologies/wes-wgs/)
- drugs: [FoundationOne CDx / Liquid CDx](https://onco.cc/drugs/foundationone-cdx/)
- institutions: [Deutsches Netzwerk für Personalisierte Medizin](https://onco.cc/institutions/dnpm/), [nationales Netzwerk Genomische Medizin Lungenkrebs](https://onco.cc/institutions/nngm/), [Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow](https://onco.cc/institutions/wolfson-wohl-cancer-research-centre/)
- people: [Andrew Biankin](https://onco.cc/people/andrew-biankin/)
- trials: [Precision-Panc](https://onco.cc/trials/precision-panc/)
- cancers: [Gallbladder cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gallbladder/)
- journals: [Nature Biotechnology](https://onco.cc/journals/nature-biotechnology/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/genomic-profiling.json