According to the U.S. News & World Report, doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City recently found certain combinations of gene mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia which indicated whether patients had a high, intermediate or low risk of recovery or remission. This type of genetic analysis is already used in many cancer treatment facilities to determine the likelihood of recovery or the level of treatment a patient needs. However, only a few gene mutation combinations were previously known, leaving 60% of patients uselessly classified as in between high and low risk. This study used to latest gene sequencing technology to study the DNA of about 500 patients using readily available tissue samples from a previous study. The researchers looked for and found links between certain gene mutations and the patients’ response to higher or lower drug treatments. This discovery has contributed to the advancement of the use of genetic analysis in cancer treatment. This study will help oncologists better determine the level of treatment their patients require for recovery based on their individual needs.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Gene Mutations Determine Recovery Outlook for Leukemia Patients
According to the U.S. News & World Report, doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City recently found certain combinations of gene mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia which indicated whether patients had a high, intermediate or low risk of recovery or remission. This type of genetic analysis is already used in many cancer treatment facilities to determine the likelihood of recovery or the level of treatment a patient needs. However, only a few gene mutation combinations were previously known, leaving 60% of patients uselessly classified as in between high and low risk. This study used to latest gene sequencing technology to study the DNA of about 500 patients using readily available tissue samples from a previous study. The researchers looked for and found links between certain gene mutations and the patients’ response to higher or lower drug treatments. This discovery has contributed to the advancement of the use of genetic analysis in cancer treatment. This study will help oncologists better determine the level of treatment their patients require for recovery based on their individual needs.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is great to hear that progress is being made in the genetic understanding of Leukemia, it is a scary disease and anything found out about it is one step closer to finding a way to end it.
ReplyDeleteVery intresting to know that there are levels, i wonder what determines if you have a better chance of getting over the cancer or not. Hopefully as mentoned previously this is another step toward the discovery of a cure.
ReplyDelete