Morning Brief Podcast: ET Deep Dive: The DNA Fix

A revolution is underway in cancer diagnosis. A gene-based test called next-generation sequencing can identify precise mutations in a patient’s DNA, which can then be treated with targeted therapies instead of painful chemotherapy. For an 80-year-old woman with stage 4 lung cancer, it meant walking again. For a 24-year-old with breast cancer, it meant a normal life. But since NGS tests can cost up to Rs 4 lakh, a unique collaboration called LuNGS Alliance is making it free for lung cancer patients across India — offering a glimpse of how medical breakthroughs can be made accessible and affordable for all. Vikas Dandekar and Arijit Barman report. Anirban Chowdhury narrates for audio. Listen in.