Hope for lung cancer treatments
- 31 Oct
Research is suggesting that offering genetic testing to lung cancer patients has the potential to save lives.
Findings reported in Science Translational Medicine found that a study of 5,000 discovered that genetic profiling of lung tumours boosted survival rates through better targeting of chemotherapy drugs. This could lead the way for personalised medicine.
Cancer Research UK has said that matching patients to a personalised treatment is still in its infancy, reports the BBC.
The standard way to diagnose lung cancer is to look at cells from a tumour under the microscope. This helps doctors make decisions about the best treatment to offer, as the cancer can be classified into different tumour types. In recent year's scientist have been making progress in understanding how cancer can be treated by matching drugs to the genetic make-up of a tumour.
A team in German, led by Dr Roman Thomas, have carried out genetic testing on lung tumour samples from about 5,000 patients to spot genetic differences in lung cancer cells. What they discovered was that whilst some tumours look similar under the microscope they actually belong to different subgroups.
Patients receiving therapy based on genetic profiling of their tumour had a better prognosis, the study revealed. Researchers say that diagnostic genetic testing of lung cancer alongside tailored treatment may improve patient survival in the future. "Our findings provide support for broad implementation of genome-based diagnosis of lung cancer".
Dr Sarah Hazell, Cancer Research UK's senior science information officer said that the way scientists think about cancer is changing. "This research highlights a growing trend of using drugs matched to the individual genetic profile of a tumour," she said.
"For lung cancer though, it's too early to claim a victory, as it's still one of the hardest to treat cancers, and matching patients to a personalised treatment is still in its infancy."
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/262068
Related articles
- 10 Aug
New social enterprise to help adults with vulnerabilities
Aspire Community Benefit Society is taking over the council’s Learning Disability Service for a five year contract, reports the Yorkshire Evening Post.This new model will see the Learning...
- 30 Jul
New app hopes to bring smarter housing for social landlords
The ZONR app combines the latest intelligent sensor technology, smart data transmission and decision engine analytics to centrally monitor and support heating systems across social landlord’s...
- 05 May
New model of care homes in Wakefield to go ahead
WDH's vision was being able to help people live longer, healthier lives and see support by co-ordinated services delivered as close to their homes as possible under the banner of ‘Connecting Care',...
- 29 Dec
App to support young people with autism with social interactions
This new app launched by Samsung aims to help treat the inability to make eye contact. The app, called Look at Me, has been developed with Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Yonsei...
- 27 Oct
3D maps could help people with visual impairments navigate cities
The official mapping body for Japan GSI have already developed paper maps for those with visual impairments using embossed surfaces to mark out roads, and is now planning a programme which will do...
- 21 Oct
A paralysed man has been able to walk again following cell transplant
Darek Fidyka, who was paralysed from the chest down following a knife attack in 2010, is now able to walk using a frame, reports the BBC. The treatment is a world first and was carried out by...
- 08 Jul
Breakthrough blood test for Alzheimer's cure
An international collaboration led by scientists from King's College London and Proteome Sciences has published a study identifying a set of ten proteins in the blood. This test will then predict the...
- 04 Jul
Trials for Alzheimer's disease is declining
US scientists have said there is an urgent need to increase the number of potential therapies being investigated. They say that only one new medicine has been approved since 2004, reports the BBC.The...
- 02 May
Study into the possibility of delaying the onset of dementia
One third of a million adults in the UK are taking part in a trial, funded by the Medical Research Council to try to predict what factors increases the risk of a person developing dementia.Each of...
- 10 Mar
Scientists believe a blood test could detect the early signs of Alzheimer's
Researchers have found that changes in the blood may signify Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, has identified ten molecules in blood...
The Welfare Reform Act: Universal Credit, Sheltered and Supported Housing The content was concise and to the point. The content was relevant to our service, and gave us a better us a better indication of were stand with upcoming changes. Rosie Kaur - Panahghar
