Use of the QIAGEN GeneReader NGS system for detection of KRAS mutations, validated by the QIAGEN Therascreen PCR kit and alternative NGS platform

Agus Darwanto, Anne-Mette Hein, Sascha Strauss, Yi Kong, Andrew Sheridan, Dan Richards, Eric Lader, Monika Ngowe, Timothy Pelletier, Danielle Adams, Austin Ricker, Nishit Patel, Andreas Kühne, Simon Hughes, Dan Shiffman, Dirk Zimmermann, Kai te Kaat, Thomas Rothmann

The detection of somatic mutations in primary tumors is critical for the understanding of cancer evolution and targeting therapy. Multiple technologies have been developed to enable the detection of such mutations. Next generation sequencing (NGS) is a new platform that is gradually becoming the technology of choice for genotyping cancer samples, owing to its ability to simultaneously interrogate many genomic loci at massively high efficiency and increasingly lower cost. However, multiple barriers still exist for its broader adoption in clinical research practice, such as fragmented workflow and complex bioinformatics analysis and interpretation. We performed validation of the QIAGEN GeneReader NGS System using the QIAact Actionable Insights Tumor Panel, focusing on clinically meaningful mutations by using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) colorectal tissue with known KRAS mutations. The performance of the GeneReader was evaluated and compared to data generated from alternative technologies (PCR and pyrosequencing) as well as an alternative NGS platform. The results were further confirmed with Sanger sequencing. The data generated from the GeneReader achieved 100% concordance with reference technologies. Furthermore, the GeneReader workflow provides a truly integrated workflow, eliminating artifacts resulting from routine sample preparation; and providing up-to-date interpretation of test results. The GeneReader NGS system offers an effective and efficient method to identify somatic (KRAS) cancer mutations.