Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42083299›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2026

Application of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Patients With Cancer.

Rong Qin, Chao Wang, Minghua Cong, Le Tian, Ning Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Rong QinDepartment of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Chao WangDepartment of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Minghua CongDepartment of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Le TianDepartment of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Ning LiDepartment of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Funding

Beijing Vlove Charity Foundation JYKY2024-0050409022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith the development of new sequencing technologies, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has become a diagnostic tool for respiratory tract infections. Patients with cancer may develop pneumonia caused by infections or antitumor therapy. Therefore, pneumonia in patients with cancer is more complex than that in healthy individuals. Currently, few reports are available on the use of mNGS for diagnosing pneumonia in patients with cancer.

methodsIn this retrospective study, 14 patients with cancer diagnosed with pneumonia in March 2023 were enrolled from the Emergency Department of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital. Sputum samples from the patients were examined using conventional tests and mNGS to identify pathogens. The mNGS and conventional test results were compared to assess the diagnostic yield in patients with cancer.

resultsThe overall pathogen detection rate of mNGS was 64.29% (9/14), with corresponding diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, false-negative rate and false-positive rate of 90.00%, 25.00%, 10.00% and 75.00%, respectively. Among 13 paired sputum specimens, mNGS exhibited a numerically higher pathogen detection rate (61.54%, 8/13) than conventional diagnostic assays (38.46%, 5/13). McNemar's paired chi-square test demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the two detection methods (p = 0.37), and Kappa concordance analysis generated a coefficient of 0.27 (p = 0.23), suggesting poor inter-method consistency. Compared with conventional tests, mNGS detected additional pathogens in 8 specimens and identified a greater number of pathogens in 9/14 (64%) samples. Moreover, mNGS results led to diagnostic revisions and subsequent antimicrobial therapy adjustments in 64% (9/14) of enrolled patients. Additionally, mNGS detected antibiotic resistance genes in five patients, which provided guidance for antibiotic selection.

conclusionsMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) showed potential value in pathogen detection, as it appeared to identify pathogens more rapidly and comprehensively than conventional methods. It may provide auxiliary support for the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in this vulnerable population.

Indexed as

High-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingMetagenomicsNeoplasmsPneumoniaAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificitySputumantimicrobial resistancecancerconventional methodsdiagnosismetagenomic next‐generation sequencingpneumonia

Identifiers

PMID42083299
PMCPMC13139721

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.