Genetic Testing for Cancer and Uncertain Results: Advancements in Science are Shedding Light on Treatment Guidance

Cancer treatment is becoming more personalized, with a focus on each patient’s unique genetic and molecular makeup, lifestyle choices, and environmental influences. This approach, known as personalized or precision medicine, is gaining traction in South Africa and expanding to other African nations. Physicians are increasingly relying on genetic tests to make informed treatment decisions, tailoring therapies to individual genetic profiles. However, these tests sometimes yield ambiguous results, posing challenges for treatment planning. In efforts to enhance the interpretation of inconclusive genetic tests, functional genomics is emerging as a promising solution.