Making the genomic leap in HCT: application of second-generation sequencing to clinical advances in hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Recent developments in second-generation sequencing (SGS) technologies provide an avenue for achieving rapid and accurate high-throughput analysis of human and microbial genomic diversity. SGS technologies have the potential to transform existing medical management of complex and life-threatening medical conditions by enabling clinicians to develop disease-targeted clinical care plans for each patient. In this review, we outline how innovative SGS-based approaches can improve the care of recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), a life-saving procedure that carries a 1-year mortality risk of over 30%. We specifically evaluate foreseeable applications of SGS-based technology in facilitating rapid, phase-sensitive human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, assessment of non-HLA genomic compatibility, identifying patients at high risk for adverse drug reactions, and post-HCT monitoring for engraftment, minimal residual disease and infection. We conclude that innovative SGS approaches have the capacity to revolutionize the HCT recipient risk assessment process, support non-invasive clinical monitoring and improve patient outcomes, thereby setting the stage for a new era of genomically informed patient-centered medicine.