Breast Cancer News: Personalized Treatment Seen After New Research on Genes

Scientists have analyzed the genomes of cancerous tissue from 560 patients with breast cancer, four of whom were men, providing more comprehensive information on genetic mutations in the killer disease. This is paving the way towards personalized cancer treatment.

The Guardian reported that scientists found "93 genes in which a mutation could cause the development of tumors, including five that were previously unknown." They were also able to see how the mutations happened, which led to the conclusion that genomes of breast cancers are "highly individual."

The findings were published in journals Nature and Nature Communications. "We wanted to be able to profile each cancer patient, to see if we could further our understanding of personal cancer genomes," lead study author Dr. Serena Nik-Zainal said in an email to Time. Nik-Zainal is from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

Breast Cancer Study Identified Mutation Patterns

The research on breast cancer focused on the gene mutations that allow the cancer cells to grow and the patterns in each tumor, The Independent reported. The patterns are called mutational signatures. The scientists identified 13 mutational signatures, which are "imprints of the biological processes that go awry in cells when they turn into cancer," Nik-Zainal said as per Time

Breast Cancer Study Called Groundbreaking

"The findings from this groundbreaking study will in future help doctors to identify the most likely successful treatment for a woman diagnosed with breast cancer," said Breast Cancer Care senior clinical nurse specialist Rachel Rawson via The Independent. Rawson said that the findings are "a step closer to personalized medicine."

Professor Sir Mike Stratton said via The Guardian that the findings open the doors for treatment opportunities. Stratton is the director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

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