Next-generation sequencing RNA fusion panel for the diagnosis of haematological malignancies.

Haematological malignancies are being increasingly defined by gene rearrangements, which have traditionally been detected by karyotype, fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) or reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, these traditional methods may miss cryptic gene rearrangements and are limited by the number of gene rearrangements screened at any one time. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) RNA fusion panel is an evolving technology that can identify multiple fusion transcripts in a single molecular assay, even without prior knowledge of breakpoints or fusion partners.