Genomic landscape and clinical utility of Korean advanced pan-cancer patients from prospective clinical sequencing: K-MASTER program

Abstract

The fundamental principle of precision oncology is centralized on identification of therapeutically exploitable targets that provides individual cancer patients an opportunity to make informed decisions on a personalized level. To facilitate and adopt such concepts within clinical practice, we have initiated a nation-wide, multi-institutional precision oncology screening program to examine and enroll patients into the most appropriate clinical trial based on their unique molecular properties. To determine prevalence of essential major driver mutations and to explore their dynamic associations at both single molecular and pathway levels, we first present a comprehensive overview on the genomic properties of East Asian cancer patients. We further delineated the extent of genomic diversity as well as clinical utility between patients from western and eastern cultures at the pan-cancer and single tumor entity levels. To support fellow oncology communities in future investigations involving largescale analysis, all data have been made accessible to the public (https://kmportal.or.kr). Statement of Significance: We present a comprehensive overview on molecular properties of East Asian pan-cancer patients and demonstrate significant diversity in terms of genomic characteristics as well as clinical utilities compared to patients with European ancestry. The results of this study will lay the groundwork for designing personalized treatments in the clinical setting.