8 December 2025
by Traci Pawlowski, VP, Head of Clinical Solutions, Illumina
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) testing is finally gaining momentum among in-house labs, paving the way for a new level of precision cancer care.
Next generation sequencing-based CGP testing simultaneously assesses hundreds of genes and biomarkers in a single test, broadening insights into clinically actionable genomic drivers of cancer. CGP testing opens the door to improved patient outcomes by matching patients with the most beneficial immunotherapy, precision medicine therapy, and clinical trial options.
Despite its advantages, in-house CGP testing has been largely inaccessible for smaller community hospitals and oncology practices, where most patient care happens. At Illumina, we want to not only be a catalyst for innovation, but also for enhanced patient care. Our expanded clinical oncology portfolio enables CGP testing to be integrated into smaller community health systems—a game-changer that will increase access, maximize therapeutic options for more patients, and improve health equity.
Traditionally, CGP testing requires oncologists to send patient samples to an external lab. This process is often burdened by fragmented workflows, communication barriers, and long turnaround times. Centralized CGP testing typically takes weeks to deliver results, which can delay treatment decisions and leave patients and their providers uncertain during a critical time.
Bringing CGP testing in-house reduces these operational barriers, allowing more patients with cancer to get tested, faster test results, earlier clinical care decisions, expanded treatment options, and ultimately, improved patient health outcomes. With decentralized CGP, oncologists can easily communicate with their local pathologists and receive test results faster. This efficiency empowers clinicians to optimize care pathways, which enables faster treatment decisions, provides more time for patients to focus on hope and healing, and drives better outcomes for both patients and healthcare systems.
Two weeks ago, at the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) conference, Illumina had the opportunity to hold a panel discussion on the value of localized CGP testing. We were joined by a community-based pathologist, oncologist, and laboratory director who discussed their experience implementing Illumina TruSight Oncology Comprehensive (TSO Comp), a US FDA-approved CGP assay, and the value it’s added for their healthcare teams and patients. The panelists noted that the test attributes of TSO Comp—from the comprehensive list of biomarkers to the ability to evaluate both DNA and RNA—supports a seamless transition to in-house CGP testing, while maintaining optimal patient care. Each panelist brought a unique perspective as to the value of TSO Comp for their institution. The pathologist appreciated the straightforward workflow and comprehensive content that TSO Comp provided, while the oncologist recognized how the efficiency of TSO Comp enabled him to bridge gaps between the lab and the clinicians. The lab director valued the operational and financial advantages of FDA-approved in vitro diagnostics, such as a shorter go-live time that requires only verification and a clear path to reimbursement. When clinicians can act faster and more confidently, patients benefit. They all felt that these attributes are particularly important in the community health setting, where resources are often limited.
With our CGP solution, community practices are gaining more than just technology, they are gaining a trusted partner who is invested in their success. Our medical affairs team is available to educate clinicians, our service and support team will help customers get testing up and running quickly, and our market access team will continuously advocate for broader insurance reimbursement. This allows healthcare systems to focus on what’s most important—delivering the best care possible for their community. The impact of localized CGP testing also goes beyond cancer: It drives broader adoption of genomics in healthcare, empowering clinicians, patients, and their community.
The panelists were unanimous in their passion for increasing access to biomarker-driven cancer care, meeting patients where they are, and improving health outcomes within-house CGP testing.
