You can now get personalised cancer treatment plans using genome sequencing. Doctors are on it
In an effort to personalise each person's cancer report and their treatment, UK scientists have begun an 'archaeological dig' into the disease and begun analysing the whole genome sequence of over 12,000 cancer patients.
In a journal published by Science.org, the group of scientists explain that they obtained 12,222 whole genome sequenced cancers 'collected prospectively' through the NHS and were able to identify, previously unknown causes of cancer through the DNA of the disease.
The journal is titled 'Substitution mutational signatures in whole-genome–sequenced cancers in the UK population'.
WHY GENOME SEQUENCING: While the types of cancers are usually categorised by which organ the disease is found in, whole genome sequencing can help such questions can be answered:
- Why you developed the cancer
- The type of cancer you may have
- In what ways may the cancer behave
- Which treatments may be most effective
- If you are at the risk of developing any other type of cancer.
While the process is fairly new, whole genome sequencing involves collecting a cancer tumour sample through the patient's blood, saliva or skin, analysing the sample and comparing the result of the tumor sample with another blood, skin or saliva result.
Consultant at Cambridge University Hospitals and lead researcher, Professor Serena Nik-Zainal told the BBC, "We can see the patterns or imprints in the field of their cancers, like dinosaur footprints, of what is going wrong with their cancers. And everyone's cancer is different. To know we can personalise each person's cancer report means we are a step closer to personalising treatment for them."
To further understand what genome sequencing is, check out this video:
WHAT DID THEY FIND: Through their research, the scientists were able to identify environmental and internal causes of cancer through mutational signatures.
Mutational signatures are essentially specific combinations of genetic alterations arising from specific mutagenesis processes. These signatures helped scientists confirm cancer causing patterns that were previously known and also uncover 58 new cancer causing patterns.
Other than enviornmental and internal causes, scientists were also able to gather more information about genetic abnormalities that would be responsive to certain drugs, using the same mutational signatures.
Chief scientific officer of Genomics England, Professor Matt Brown said, "Mutational signatures are an example of using the full potential of whole genome sequencing. We hope to use the mutational clues seen in this study and apply them back into our patient population, with the ultimate aim of improving diagnosis and management of cancer patients."
With this research, doctors treating cancer patients will be able to now develop patient-specific treatment plans and be able to identify every patients cause of the disease.