A Medical Renaissance

Imagine what it would be like to have future cancer treatments that dealt with focusing on the genomic profile of the cancer rather than the organ of origin.  This would be a more direct approach during a patient’s therapy compared to dealing with the problem indirectly; after all as our research shows, cancer is rooted at the genetic and epigenetic level.  What would this mean and what challenges would it bring?  Well we don’t have to image what it would be like for long because according to a recent article from “Science” A Medical Renaissance, because of the reduced cost of genomic sequencing and new scientific technologies.

This article reveals the current discoveries involved with using the information gained from sequencing genomes to better interpret the genetics and epigenetic effects involved with the beginning stages, transformation, and advancement of cancer.  For example, it mentions Vogelstein’s derived principles encompassing over more than 100 genome sequencing projects on tumor biology and on the clinical impact of cancer genome analysis in the identification and treatment of cancer diseases. Other scientists set standards for sharing information on whole- genome sequencing that reveal clinically relevant mutations.  Still others have offered way to best apply pharmacogenomics information in making and modifying drugs to target cancers.  Suvà, Riggi, and Bernstein are other scientist who focused on how the outcomes of cells are directed by epigenetic regulation, identifying links between cellular differentiation and cancer. Thus it is due to the combination of decoding the meaning of sequences through experimentation that have allowed us to make new advances in understanding the workings of cells in terms of genetics and epigenetics.

Being able to interpret the genome is the basis for dealing with cancer treatment.  If we know what’s going on in our bodies, then we can better predict the formation of cancer and create more effective treatments. With discovering more effective technologies, utilizing different techniques in experiments that cross lab findings with clinical findings, and using these new technologies to create new techniques in deriving more information from DNA sequencing, there is a positive outlook for future treatments for cancer.  Hopefully, a new approach to battling cancer like this will allow medical therapies to be more effective by taking this new head on approach rather than relying on the limitations involved with treating cancer indirectly. 

Posted by Marshall Moini (2)