Scientific fortune telling-Genetic testing for precision medicine

2021-10-15

Source:China Medical University & Healthcare System

Doctor Jan-Gowth Chang from The Center for Precision in China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) pointed out that “precision medicine” uses genetic sequencing technology to provide precise diagnosis and treatment based on genetic difference and to avoid delays in treatment and side effects. It provides better quality of life for the public. The Center for Precision Medicine in CMUH has the core technology of precision medicine: genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis system. The center has purchased multiple sequencer and bioinformatics teams, which can perform genetic testing and analysis of various cancers, rare diseases and other diseases. The sequencing technique and analysis system guarantee the quality of the sequencing report and patients’ privacy. The center provides cancer genetic testing, non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), gut microbiota and other services, a total of 15 major items, including more than 130 tests.

Non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) is a method of determining the risk that the fetus will be born with certain genetic abnormalities in a pregnant woman’s blood. Compared with amniocentesis, NIPS can avoid the risk of pregnancy loss due to the amniocentesis and greatly reduce the mother’s psychological stress.

Cancer genetic testing includes lung cancer panel, breast cancer panel, colorectal cancer panel, Myeloid Neoplasms Panel and Human Comprehensive Cancer Panel, which are very helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers.

A cancer patient was diagnosed as multiple myeloma in another hospital, but the treatment effect was not good. Through bone marrow smears and genetic sequencing in CMUH, the patient was diagnosed as lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. There is target therapy for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with specific gene mutations. The patient were indeed effectively improved after treatment. Another patient with colorectal cancer has tried all available cancer drugs but the condition has not improved. After genetic testing, a new drug was suitable for the patient.

"Precision medicine" is an extension of personalized medicine. It is individual-oriented clinical medicine. The strategy of using the same treatment for the same disease in the past will gradually be eliminated. The era of "precision medicine" begins according to human genome project. In the future, precision medicine will be inseparable from everyone's life. The Center for Precision Medicine in CMUH will develop more genetic testing to improve the quality of medical care for the public.

The genetic testing services provided by The Center for Precision Medicine in CMUH can be consulted at the booth.