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Posted on Sep 22, 2002, 11 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
Miniature chips that take snapshots of the activity of thousands of genes have enabled scientists to classify lung cancers at the genetic level as opposed to their appearance under the microscope. By determining the so-called genetic signature of tumors it will make it possible for doctors to determine between different types of cancer that are not distinguishable with current methods.
Miniature chips that take snapshots of the activity of thousands of genes have enabled scientists to classify lung cancers at the genetic level as opposed to their appearance under the microscope. By determining the so-called genetic signature of tumors it will make it possible for doctors to determine between different types of cancer that are not distinguishable with current methods. To classify the cancers scientists placed RNA extracts from different tumors onto chips containing 12,600 known genes. The RNA present in the cancer binds to identical gene sequences on the chip, thus enabling the team to identify which genes are present in the cancer. By measuring the fluorescence of the RNA it is also possible to determine the activity of each gene. The researchers hope that their discovery will help doctors to accurately determine between different types of lung cancer, and therefore give them the most relevant treatment. The discovery could also help scientist to develop drugs tailored to different types of tumor by targeting specific genes.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (http://www.dfci.harvard.edu) on the 13th November 2001
