Clinical impact of panel gene sequencing on therapy of advanced cancers of the digestive system: a retrospective, single center study

Panel gene sequencing is an established diagnostic tool for precision oncology of solid tumors, but its utility for the treatment of cancers of the digestive system in clinical routine is less well documented. We retrospectively identified patients with advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal, pancreaticobiliary or hepatic cancers who received panel gene sequencing at a tertiary university hospital from 2015 to 2022. For these cases, we determined the spectrum of genetic alterations, clinicopathological parameters and treatment courses. Assessment of actionability of genetic alterations was based on the OncoKB database, cancer-specific ESMO treatment guidelines, and recommendations of the local molecular tumor board. In total, 155 patients received panel gene sequencing using either the Oncomine Focus (62 cases), Comprehensive (91 cases) or Childhood Cancer Research Assay (2 cases). The mean age of patients was 61 years (range 24–90) and 37