role of next generation sequencing technologies in personalized medicine

Following the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, research in oncology has progressively focused on the sequencing of cancer genomes, with the aim of better understanding the genetic basis of oncogenesis and identifying actionable alterations. The development of next-generation-sequencing (NGS) techniques, commercially available since 2006, allowed for a cost- and time-effective sequencing of tumor DNA, leading to a "genomic era" of cancer research and treatment. NGS provided a significant step forward in Personalized Medicine (PM) by enabling the detection of somatic driver mutations, resistance mechanisms, quantification of mutational burden, germline mutations, which settled the foundation of a new approach in cancer care. In this chapter, we discuss the history, available techniques, and applications of NGS in oncology, with a particular referral to the PM approach and the emerging role of the research field of pharmacogenomics

Plastic-reconstructive surgery from the point of view of oral- and maxillofacial surgery: status quo

The prior aim of facial plastic-reconstructive surgery was and will be the adequate restitution of appearance and function so that patients with trauma- or tumorassociated defects as well as congenital malformations can be successfully rehabilitated. Nowadays, three major techniques are used to achieve this goal: local flaps, pedicled flaps and microsurgical flaps. This overview article describes in detail the three major techniques of facial plastic reconstructive surgery from past to present and gives an outlook on upcoming new techniques like the virtual planning of reconstructive measures.Die plastisch-rekonstruktive Chirurgie im Bereich des Gesichtes hatte schon immer den Anforderungen der Wiederherstellung von Aussehen und Funktion zu genügen, damit Patienten mit tumor- oder traumabedingten Defekten oder angeborenen Fehlbildungen posttherapeutisch erfolgreich rehabilitiert werden können. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, kommen derzeit drei wesentliche Techniken zum Einsatz: lokale Nahlappenplastiken, gestielte regionale Lappen und mikrochirurgische Transplantate. Die vorliegende Übersichtsarbeit beschreibt diese drei Haupttechniken der plastisch-rekonstruktiven Chirurgie des Gesichtes und gibt einen Ausblick auf neuartige Technologien wie der virtuellen Planung von rekonstruktiven Eingriffen