Sucharu Prakash, Director of Quality Services at Texas Oncology, shared on LinkedIn:
“Whole Exome WES or Whole Genome WGS Sequencing?
A question I get asked quite often!
There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and below is a very nice overview of the differences between WES and WGS and the considerations that go into choosing the right approach: Whole Exome or Whole Genome Sequencing: Tips for Making the Right Choice.
In oncology, the conversation is particularly important.
Cancer is genomically complex. Clinically relevant alterations are not always limited to protein-coding regions, and the scope and depth of testing can influence what we find.
Targeted panels, whole exome sequencing (WES), and whole genome sequencing (WGS) each have a role.
The key is understanding what each approach can detect, what it may miss, and how the results can inform clinical decisions.
One thing is clear: Biomarker testing is no longer optional in modern oncology.
It is critical to identifying actionable alterations, selecting targeted therapies and immunotherapies, informing prognosis, and identifying clinical trial opportunities.
We cannot treat what we don’t test for, and we cannot identify actionable mutations if we never look for them.
As precision medicine advances, our responsibility is to ensure that comprehensive, appropriate genomic testing is accessible to every patient who can benefit from it.”
You can also read: Expert Discussion at COGC 2026: The Right First Investments in Precision Oncology.
