DNA tests ‘predict best cancer treatment’

A new series of tests that analyse the genetic makeup of cancerous tumours could help predict what methods of chemotherapy would most help patients.

Scientists claim that the genomic tests are 80 per cent more accurate than current methods in forecasting what drugs would be most effective for people suffering from a variety of cancers.

The research team from the US-based Duke University say the new approach could “revolutionise” cancer treatment and save many lives by reducing patients’ exposure to the toxic side-effects of chemotherapy treatments.

In their investigation, scientists extracted genetic information from tumour cells and then used messenger RNA molecules with fluorescent tags under a special light to discover which genes were most active in the tumour.

Dr Anil Potti, the study’s lead author and assistant professor of medicine at the university’s institute for genome sciences and policy, said that the research team wants to launch a clinical trial of the genomic tests for breast cancer patients next year.

“Chemotherapy will likely continue to be the backbone of many anticancer treatment strategies,” he said.

“With the new test, we think that physicians will be able to personalise chemotherapy in a way that should improve outcomes,” Dr Potti added.

Today’s study says that more than 400,000 cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy in the US every year, but the decision as to which drug they receive is based largely on trial and error.