Horizon Scanning in Cancer Genomics: How Advances in Genomic Medicine Will Change Cancer Care Over the Next Decade

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Advances in genomic medicine have the potential to revolutionise cancer patient care by driving forwards the clinical practice of precision oncology. This review aims to outline how genomic medicine advances may alter the care of cancer patients and their families over the next 10 years. RECENT FINDINGS: The translation of oncogenomic advances into the clinical environment will likely be facilitated by the increasing availability of next-generation sequencing technologies and the increasing genomic literacy of healthcare professionals. The implementation of the centralised, nationwide NHS Genomic Medicine Service promises to improve equity of cancer care and to facilitate personalisation of almost every stage of the care pathway, from informing population screening and how we diagnose cancer to delivering prognoses and surveillance. Advances in cancer pharmacogenomics, and other “omics” technologies, have a tremendous potential to optimise patient care. Genomic medicine advances will also enhance the care offered to cancer patients’ families. SUMMARY: Genomic medicine advances are likely to transform almost every aspect of a cancer patient’s care pathway. Cancer care will profoundly improve over the next decade, increasing UK cancer survival rates and improving patient outcomes.