Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing: a Delphi methodology

Richard Phillips; Bristi Basu; Zohra Butt; Mounia Beloueche; Natalie Cook; Simon J Crabb; Alastair Greystoke; Darren Hargrave; Robert Jones; Muhammad Yasin Kureeman; Juanita Lopez; Claire McKeeve; Magdalena Meissner; Brent O'Carrigan; Eileen E Parkes; Milind Ronghe; Patricia Roxburgh; Debashis Sarker; Kienan I Savage; Paul H S Shaw; Stefan Symeonides; Deborah A Tweddle; Aditi Vedi; Harriet S Walter; Joanna Zabkiewicz; Gary W Middleton; Andrew D Beggs

doi:10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6

Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing: a Delphi methodology

Richard Phillips
, Bristi Basu
, Zohra Butt
, Mounia Beloueche
, Natalie Cook
, Simon J Crabb
, Alastair Greystoke
, Darren Hargrave
, Robert Jones
, Muhammad Yasin Kureeman
, Juanita Lopez
, Claire McKeeve
, Magdalena Meissner
, Brent O'Carrigan
, Eileen E Parkes
, Milind Ronghe
, Patricia Roxburgh
, Debashis Sarker
, Kienan I Savage
, Paul H S Shaw

Stefan Symeonides, Deborah A Tweddle, Aditi Vedi, Harriet S Walter, Joanna Zabkiewicz, Gary W Middleton, Andrew D Beggs

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) Network supports UK-wide access to experimental cancer therapies, many of which require specific genomic alterations. This study aimed to develop expert consensus on essential genes for a pan-cancer sequencing panel, involving subject matter experts (SMEs) from the ECMC Network and the pharmaceutical industry.

METHODS: A pilot with 8 SMEs graded 526 genes, refining the list to 210. A three-round Delphi process was then used, with SMEs iteratively evaluating each gene. In the final round, SMEs also assessed the inclusion of tumour mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and mutation types (structural variations, copy number variations, and/or fusions).

RESULTS: Consensus was reached on a final panel of 99 genes applicable across multiple cancers. High agreement was also achieved for including TMB, MSI, and screening for structural variations, copy number variants, and fusions. The panel is intended for both adult and paediatric tumour types.

CONCLUSIONS: This consensus-based gene panel offers a standardised approach to pan-cancer genomic screening. It supports harmonised diagnostics and could improve patient access to personalised therapies and research trials across clinical and NHS settings.

Original language	English
Number of pages	6
Journal	British Journal of Cancer
Early online date	8 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 8 Nov 2025

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UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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Phillips, R., Basu, B., Butt, Z., Beloueche, M., Cook, N., Crabb, S. J., Greystoke, A., Hargrave, D., Jones, R., Kureeman, M. Y., Lopez, J., McKeeve, C., Meissner, M., O'Carrigan, B., Parkes, E. E., Ronghe, M., Roxburgh, P., Sarker, D., Savage, K. I., ... Beggs, A. D. (2025). Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing: a Delphi methodology. British Journal of Cancer. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6

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title = "Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing: a Delphi methodology",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) Network supports UK-wide access to experimental cancer therapies, many of which require specific genomic alterations. This study aimed to develop expert consensus on essential genes for a pan-cancer sequencing panel, involving subject matter experts (SMEs) from the ECMC Network and the pharmaceutical industry.METHODS: A pilot with 8 SMEs graded 526 genes, refining the list to 210. A three-round Delphi process was then used, with SMEs iteratively evaluating each gene. In the final round, SMEs also assessed the inclusion of tumour mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and mutation types (structural variations, copy number variations, and/or fusions).RESULTS: Consensus was reached on a final panel of 99 genes applicable across multiple cancers. High agreement was also achieved for including TMB, MSI, and screening for structural variations, copy number variants, and fusions. The panel is intended for both adult and paediatric tumour types.CONCLUSIONS: This consensus-based gene panel offers a standardised approach to pan-cancer genomic screening. It supports harmonised diagnostics and could improve patient access to personalised therapies and research trials across clinical and NHS settings.",

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doi = "10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6",

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Phillips, R, Basu, B, Butt, Z, Beloueche, M, Cook, N, Crabb, SJ, Greystoke, A, Hargrave, D, Jones, R, Kureeman, MY, Lopez, J, McKeeve, C, Meissner, M, O'Carrigan, B, Parkes, EE, Ronghe, M, Roxburgh, P, Sarker, D, Savage, KI, Shaw, PHS, Symeonides, S, Tweddle, DA, Vedi, A, Walter, HS, Zabkiewicz, J, Middleton, GW & Beggs, AD 2025, 'Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing: a Delphi methodology', British Journal of Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing

T2 - a Delphi methodology

AU - Phillips, Richard

AU - Basu, Bristi

AU - Butt, Zohra

AU - Beloueche, Mounia

AU - Cook, Natalie

AU - Crabb, Simon J

AU - Greystoke, Alastair

AU - Hargrave, Darren

AU - Jones, Robert

AU - Kureeman, Muhammad Yasin

AU - Lopez, Juanita

AU - McKeeve, Claire

AU - Meissner, Magdalena

AU - O'Carrigan, Brent

AU - Parkes, Eileen E

AU - Ronghe, Milind

AU - Roxburgh, Patricia

AU - Sarker, Debashis

AU - Savage, Kienan I

AU - Shaw, Paul H S

AU - Symeonides, Stefan

AU - Tweddle, Deborah A

AU - Vedi, Aditi

AU - Walter, Harriet S

AU - Zabkiewicz, Joanna

AU - Middleton, Gary W

AU - Beggs, Andrew D

PY - 2025/11/8

Y1 - 2025/11/8

N2 - BACKGROUND: The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) Network supports UK-wide access to experimental cancer therapies, many of which require specific genomic alterations. This study aimed to develop expert consensus on essential genes for a pan-cancer sequencing panel, involving subject matter experts (SMEs) from the ECMC Network and the pharmaceutical industry.METHODS: A pilot with 8 SMEs graded 526 genes, refining the list to 210. A three-round Delphi process was then used, with SMEs iteratively evaluating each gene. In the final round, SMEs also assessed the inclusion of tumour mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and mutation types (structural variations, copy number variations, and/or fusions).RESULTS: Consensus was reached on a final panel of 99 genes applicable across multiple cancers. High agreement was also achieved for including TMB, MSI, and screening for structural variations, copy number variants, and fusions. The panel is intended for both adult and paediatric tumour types.CONCLUSIONS: This consensus-based gene panel offers a standardised approach to pan-cancer genomic screening. It supports harmonised diagnostics and could improve patient access to personalised therapies and research trials across clinical and NHS settings.

AB - BACKGROUND: The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) Network supports UK-wide access to experimental cancer therapies, many of which require specific genomic alterations. This study aimed to develop expert consensus on essential genes for a pan-cancer sequencing panel, involving subject matter experts (SMEs) from the ECMC Network and the pharmaceutical industry.METHODS: A pilot with 8 SMEs graded 526 genes, refining the list to 210. A three-round Delphi process was then used, with SMEs iteratively evaluating each gene. In the final round, SMEs also assessed the inclusion of tumour mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and mutation types (structural variations, copy number variations, and/or fusions).RESULTS: Consensus was reached on a final panel of 99 genes applicable across multiple cancers. High agreement was also achieved for including TMB, MSI, and screening for structural variations, copy number variants, and fusions. The panel is intended for both adult and paediatric tumour types.CONCLUSIONS: This consensus-based gene panel offers a standardised approach to pan-cancer genomic screening. It supports harmonised diagnostics and could improve patient access to personalised therapies and research trials across clinical and NHS settings.

U2 - 10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6

DO - 10.1038/s41416-025-03252-6

M3 - Article

C2 - 41206382

SN - 0007-0920

JO - British Journal of Cancer

JF - British Journal of Cancer

ER -

Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network proposal for a consensus gene panel for pan-cancer sequencing: a Delphi methodology

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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