Cancer sequencing gets a little more personal

Abstract

In this Perspective, we discuss a paper in this issue of Science Translational Medicine, in which Leary and colleagues present a new method based on massive, parallel, and near-complete sequencing of individual tumor genomes. Their findings support the notion that cancer genomes house a spectrum of genetic alterations, many of which are unique to the individual tumor. More validation and a reduction in cost are required for this approach to become common in clinics.