According to Dr. Patiño, the clinical management of pediatric patients with malignant tumors could be improved, in some cases, through the use of rationally organized gene panels to perform the study of tumor sample and identify biomarkers of diagnostic, predictive and/or prognostic value that would allow progress in personalized medicine protocols for this group of patients.

"With this project we aim, in the different participating centers, to assess the clinical utility of broad genetic panels (of more than 200 genes) that can add value to the clinical management of some pediatric cancer patients. We hope to determine targets that will help to treat or stratify these patients, improving the information we currently provide them," explains Dr. Patiño.

The project has a duration of two years, and it is expected that, before the end of this period, the clinicians responsible for the patients will have these genomic tests available for the management of pediatric cancer patients.

Dr. Ana Patiño is a researcher at department of Pediatrics at the University of Navarra. Clínica Universidad de Navarra and co-director of the Solid Tumors and Hereditary Diseases Unit at CIMA LAB Diagnostics.

CIMA LAB Diagnostics is the laboratory for genetic and phenotypic diagnostics at Clínica Universidad de Navarra.