Targeted sequencing strategies in cancer research

Abstract

Despite the rapidly decreasing cost and increasing throughput of next- generation sequencing technologies, deep targeted resequencing has maintained its importance in the sensitive detection of mutations by focusing only on targets of biomedical or clinical relevance. In this chapter, we review current as well as emerging technologies that enable the capture of specifi c elements from a sample. In particular, we focus on targeted resequencing in cancer research. To date, the cancer research community has sequenced over 2,500 cancer samples from 17 different tissue types by whole-exome targeted resequencing. In addition, clinically relevant targets such as known cancer genes and cancer-associated miRNAs and viruses have been sequenced selectively by targeted next-generation sequencing technologies. We expect that the use of targeted resequencing in cancer research will soon become a standard research and analysis method, and in turn further technological developments that allow for the improved extraction of genetic components will be rapidly adopted.