Next-Generation Sequencing in Clinical Practice

Abstract During the past few decades, Sanger sequencing represented the “gold standard” technique. In order to better define the mutational status of several genes at the same time, next-generation sequencing methodologies have been introduced in the molecular laboratory workflow. In the era of personalized medicine, this technological improvement plays a key role in the comprehensive molecular characterization of cancer patients in order to get a “tile” target therapy. For different cancer patients, different target therapies are available and different genes serve as clinical it relevant biomarkers. This chapter reviews the principal features of these novel technologies and their applicat…