IBM Watson's latest gig: Improving cancer treatment with genomic sequencing - TechRepublic

Cancer treatments are about to get an injection of cognitive computing. On Tuesday, IBM Watson Health and Quest Diagnostics launched IBM Watson for Genomics--a service that combines Watson's AI capabilities with genomic tumor sequencing to determine the best course of treatment for individual patients. This is the first time Watson for Genomics will be widely available to patients and physicians nationwide, according to a press release, as Quest Diagnostics serves half of US physicians and hospitals. Quest estimates that it will provide this service for thousands of oncologists who provide about 70% of cancer care in the nation. Tumor mutations vary for each individual, and treatment success often depends on how well a physician can match a therapy to a mutation.