Biotech Updates

Stomach Cancer Tumors Have Genetic Differences: Researchers

August 12, 2011

Researchers at the Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School have discovered that stomach cancer tumors have genetic differences, which dictate how they react to treatment.  For instance, a specific chemotherapy treatment is more effective on one tumor type, and another drug works best for the other type. The genomic data of two very different gastric cancer tumors have revealed two genomic subtypes that have different molecular patters.

"Our study is the first to show that a proposed molecular classification of gastric cancer can identify genomic subtypes that respond differently to therapies, which is crucial in efforts to customize treatments for patients," said Dr. Patrick Tan, senior author of the study.

The researchers will continue their study to determine the best treatment for the tumor types.

Read more at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_114983.html.