Since the discovery of the first cancer-causing genes in the 1970s, researchers have been attempting to map cancer-causing mutations in search of common genetic patterns that deviate from normal. Each mutated gene possesses the potential to deepen our understanding of what causes the disease and how to treat it.
There are the latest progresses towards that goal. Investigators clearly describes how patterns of mutation can be used to track down the agent that caused cancer. For example, sunlight leaves a footprint that differs from a cancer-causing viral infection. Another team catalogue cancer-associated mutations in patients with advanced melanoma, hoping to use the information to tailor immune cells to destroy tumors. And promising initial results are unveiled on targeting the mutations of IDH2 protein in many different tumor types.
Genetic mutation in cancer
An article published in August 2013, initially reported a detailed map of genetic faults that cause cancers. It offers profound insights into the disease.
The map describes over 20 “genetic signatures”, or patterns of mutation, that alone or in combination drive 30 different types of cancer. Independent cancer specialists who have seen the research said it was “extremely important” and was likely to lead to new strategies to prevent and ultimately treat the disease.
To achieve the stratified medicine
As it’s known, stratified medicine identifies key molecular changes common to different people’s cancers. Patients can then be grouped based on these shared genetic faults, allowing some people to receive a targeted treatment matched to their group.
To realize this challenging goal, some scientists launched the Stratified Medicine Programme with the aim of establishing a network of labs and hospitals that in the future may enable individualized treatment. They expected it would become routine to consult patient stratification in cancer treatment .
Reference:
1. Metabolic quirks yield tumour hope. Nature 508, 158–159; 2014
2. Emerging patterns of somatic mutations in cancer. Nature Reviews Genetics 14, 703–718; 2013
3. The cancer genome.