AGTC Genomics Partners with Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah UPM to Advance Healthcare Professionals’ Training in Precision and Genomic Medicine
Continuing medical education initiative focuses on hereditary cancer screening, early detection, genomic profiling and liquid biopsy across the cancer care journey.
AGTC Genomics has collaborated with Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (HSAAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), on a continuing medical education (CME) initiative to strengthen healthcare professionals’ understanding of precision and genomic medicine and its applications in cancer care.
Led by Ms Toh Hiu Ching, Laboratory Manager of AGTC Genomics, the educational session focused on four areas: current technology in hereditary cancer screening, early cancer detection, comprehensive genomic profiling, and liquid biopsy for treatment selection and recurrence monitoring.
The initiative reflects the growing importance of genomic literacy in clinical practice. As molecular testing becomes increasingly relevant to cancer management, healthcare professionals need to understand which tests address particular clinical questions, when testing may be appropriate, and how results should be interpreted alongside clinical findings.
Understanding Inherited Cancer Risk
Hereditary cancer screening identifies inherited genetic changes that may increase susceptibility to certain cancers. These findings can inform personalised surveillance, prevention strategies and, in selected patients, treatment decisions, while also identifying relatives who may benefit from genetic counselling and testing.
AGTC Genomics’ CancerRiskDx™ analyses 316 genes associated with hereditary cancer susceptibility, with the main advantage of informing personalised risk management for both individuals and their families through appropriate surveillance and cascade testing.
Exploring Early Cancer Detection
Blood-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing looks for cancer-associated biological signals, offering an additional approach to screening across multiple cancer types.
MCED testing complements established screening pathways. A positive signal requires diagnostic investigation, while a negative result does not exclude cancer or remove the need for routine screening and assessment of concerning symptoms. Evidence on its impact on cancer mortality continues to develop.
AGTC Genomics’ CancerScreenDx™ is a blood-based MCED test designed to identify cancer-associated signals across multiple cancer types, providing additional information to support clinician-led assessment alongside established screening.
Supporting More Informed Treatment Selection
Comprehensive genomic profiling examines molecular changes within a patient’s cancer that may inform targeted therapy, immunotherapy or clinical trial options. Findings require interpretation in the context of the cancer type, clinical history and supporting evidence.
AGTC Genomics’ OncoDx™ pan-cancer profiling analyses 523 cancer-related DNA genes alongside RNA fusion analysis, with the main advantage of consolidating multiple biomarkers—including mutations, copy-number changes, fusions, microsatellite instability and tumour mutational burden—into one assessment, conserving biopsy material and reducing sequential testing.
This approach supports multidisciplinary treatment planning by helping clinicians identify potentially actionable findings within the molecular profile of an individual patient’s cancer.
Applying Liquid Biopsy to Treatment Selection and Monitoring
Liquid biopsy analyses tumour-derived material, including circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), in blood. It can provide clinically relevant molecular information when tumour tissue is insufficient, unavailable or difficult to obtain.
AGTC Genomics’ LiquidDx™ pan-cancer panel analyses 523 cancer-related genes from plasma, with the main advantage of providing genomic information for treatment selection and assessment of acquired resistance through a blood draw, particularly when tissue testing is challenging.
The programme also addressed molecular residual disease and recurrence monitoring, including the importance of selecting an appropriate assay and interpreting serial results alongside clinical assessment and imaging.
AGTC Genomics’ CancerTRACE™ offers a 523-gene pan-cancer NGS monitoring panel and cancer-specific panels, with the main advantage of enabling repeat blood-based assessment of tumour-associated molecular signals after treatment to support evaluation of possible residual or recurrent disease.
The clinical application of ctDNA monitoring depends on the cancer type, assay and available evidence; treatment decisions based on molecular findings require specialist assessment.
Through this collaboration, AGTC Genomics and HSAAS UPM are supporting healthcare professionals in connecting genomic knowledge with patient care, encouraging informed test selection, clear patient communication and appropriate use of molecular insights throughout the cancer journey.
About AGTC Genomics
AGTC Genomics is a Malaysia-based genomics company providing molecular diagnostic and research services across oncology, inherited conditions, pharmacogenomics and preventive health. The company supports the integration of genomic information into healthcare through laboratory services, clinical collaboration and professional education.
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