Novel omics technology driving translational research in precision oncology

Abstract

In this review, we summarize the current challenges faced by cancer researchers and motivate the use of novel genomics solutions. We follow this up with a comprehensive overview of three recent genomics technologies: liquid biopsy, single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. We discuss a few representative protocols/assays for each technology along with their strengths, weaknesses, optimal use-cases, and their current stage of clinical deployment by summarizing trial data. We focus on how these technologies help us develop a better understanding of cancer as a rapidly evolving heterogeneous genetic disease that modulates its immediate microenvironment leading to systemic macro-level changes in the patient body. We summarize the review with a flowchart that integrates these three technologies in the existing workflows of clinicians and researchers toward robust detection, accurate diagnosis, and precision oncology.

Keywords: Cancer heterogeneity; Genomics use case in translational research; Liquid biopsy; Precision oncology; Single-cell sequencing; Spatial transcriptomics.