What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for profiling mutations in solid tumors, emphasizing tumor heterogeneity and personalized treatment.

May 30, 2026

Next-generation sequencing–based mutation profiling in solid tumors: A study from a north Indian tertiary care center.

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for profiling mutations in solid tumors, emphasizing tumor heterogeneity and personalized treatment.
Observational study involving 180 histologically verified cancer patients receiving NGS testing.
Data collected on demographic details, sample types, NGS panels used, and detected genomic alterations.
NGS testing conducted at a tertiary care center in North India from February 2022 to July 2025.
TP53 mutation was the most prevalent at 25%, followed by EGFR at 12.8%.
Lung adenocarcinoma constituted 40% of the tumors analyzed.
NGS revealed several actionable mutations, highlighting the complexity of tumor biology.

Abstract

e15077 Background: Tumor heterogeneity points to the need for accurate molecular biomarkers to enable early detection, prognostication, and personalized therapy. Conventional diagnoses often fail to address tumor heterogeneity. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing is very important in precision oncology because it helps find important genetic changes and predicts how well patients will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors.We aim to assess the viability of NGS testing and scrutinize the mutation landscape, encompassing common driver mutations and co-mutations, in a tertiary care center located in North India. Methods: This observational study comprised 180 histologically verified cancer patients who received NGS testing at the Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sarvodaya Hospital and Research Centre, Faridabad, Haryana, from February 2022 to July 2025. Demographic details, sample type, NGS panel utilized, tumor type, and detected genomic alterations were analyzed. Results: The majority of patients were aged 55–64 years (36.7%), with a male predominance (71.1%). Most samples were formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue (94.4%), while 5.6% were liquid biopsy samples. The 20-gene panel was the most frequently used (45.6%), followed by the 161-gene panel (26.7%). Lung adenocarcinoma was the most common tumor subjected to NGS (40%), followed by lung squamous cell carcinoma (14.4%) and gallbladder carcinoma (6.1%).The mutation analysis showed that TP53 was the most common change found (25%), followed by EGFR (12.8%) and Other actionable or clinically relevant mutations included ERBB and NOTCH (5% each), MET and PTEN (3.9%), and ALK and CDKN2A (3.3%), along with several low-frequency variants. Conclusions: This study highlights the feasibility of NGS-based molecular profiling in identifying actionable and prognostically relevant mutations in Indian cancer patients. The predominance of TP53 co-mutations alongside targetable drivers such as EGFR and PIK3CA emphasizes the complexity of tumor biology. Integration of NGS in routine oncology practice can enhance personalized, biomarker-driven treatment strategies and support the advancement of precision oncology in India.

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