Introduction
Oncology is one of the areas of medicine most impacted by genomics. Rapid advances in genomic technologies and medical understanding have not only resulted in developments in treatment and management, but have also opened up innumerable possibilities for research that will enable us to understand, and treat, cancers better.
If you’re new to oncology and would like to learn more about the ways in which genomics is used in the field, you can watch our short explainer film. Otherwise, watch this video to hear from Dr Ellen Copson about the use of genomic data to inform treatment and management. Using examples from her clinical practice as a medical oncologist, she outlines some of the new advances in cancer treatment and looks at what might be possible in the future.
Inherited cancers
A small proportion (5%-10%) of cancers are the result of an inherited susceptibility to cancer in an individual.
In this film, Professor Clare Turnbull of Genomics England and the Institute of Cancer Research explains the importance of considering family history and inherited susceptibility to cancer. Using examples from her clinical practice, she shows the impact that knowing this information can have in terms of treatment and management – not just of individuals, but of whole families.
Last updated on 16th September 2025