NGS Gastro Molecular Panel

The NGS gastro molecular panel looks for changes in five genes in tumour tissue from the digestive tract. The results help doctors classify some gastrointestinal tumours and consider targeted treatment.

What the test looks for

Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), the panel examines:

• KIT and PDGFRA, genes commonly involved in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)
• ERBB2 (HER2), relevant to some stomach and oesophageal cancers
• BRAF, relevant to some colorectal cancers and other tumours
• TP53, a gene often changed in many cancers

Who might consider it

This test is for people with a confirmed tumour of the digestive tract, at the request of their oncologist or surgeon, when these markers are needed to complete the diagnosis or plan treatment. For colorectal cancer, a broader NGS colorectal cancer panel may be more suitable.

Before you book

This test does not use a blood sample. It needs a paraffin block of tumour tissue from an earlier biopsy or operation, which is kept by the hospital or laboratory that processed it. The block should contain at least 10% tumour cells. Contact us before booking and our team will explain how to arrange the block. The lab also asks for a signed consent form and your clinical history, including the pathology report. Results are usually ready in 20–25 days.

Understanding your results

The report lists the changes found in the tumour. Your oncologist interprets them with your pathology report to guide treatment. These are changes in the tumour, not inherited changes.