Unlocking the genomics of cancer using Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis

Cancer is a disease of the genome, and as such, tools that can analyze the genome are instrumental in understanding the mechanisms that lead to cancer, detecting cancerous cells, and providing avenues to research cancer treatments.   Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis using gold-standard capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology continues to play an instrumental role in unlocking cancer biology due its flexibility, simple workflow, and accuracy for focused sequence analysis.  We discuss the proven utility of these genomic tools in modeling disease, assessing microsatellite instability (MSI), detecting rare alleles, authenticating samples, and confirming CRISPR gene editing.  Additionally, we highlight recent advances in CE applications and instrumentation.

Key topics:

• Accuracy and simple workflow of MSI and minor variant detection
• Application of sample and cell line authentication in cancer modeling & therapeutic development
• Flexibility and precision of CE for analyzing results of CRISPR genome editing experiments
• Benefits of the latest generation CE-based genetic analyzer, SeqStudio™ Flex in accelerating cancer research