Comprehensive evaluation of a 1021-gene panel in FFPE and liquid biopsy for analytical and clinical use

Abstract

In the era of precision oncology, comprehensive molecular profiling is critical for guiding targeted and immunotherapy strategies. This study presents the analytical and clinical validation of a 1021-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel, designed for use with both formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue- and liquid-biopsy specimens. Analytical validation confirmed the assay's high sensitivity and specificity across variant types-including SNVs (Single Nucleotide Variations), indels, CNVs (Copy Number Variations), and fusions-down to a 0.5% variant allele frequency. The assay also accurately identified microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB), essential biomarkers for immunotherapy. Clinical validation was performed on over 1300 solid tumor samples from diverse histologies, revealing actionable alterations in over 50% of cases. The panel detected on-label treatment biomarkers in 12.57% of patients, increasing to 20.15% when immunotherapy markers were included. Additionally, the assay demonstrated strong concordance with orthogonal methods and was effective in detecting variants in plasma-derived circulating tumor DNA in 70% of evaluable cases. These findings support the robust performance and broad clinical applicability of the 1021-gene panel for comprehensive genomic profiling in both tissue and liquid biopsies, offering a valuable tool for personalized cancer treatment.