
via Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News
LumosVar — a name inspired by Harry Potter — could help physicians provide genomic-based treatments for their patients
By conjuring the spell “Lumos!” wizards in the mythical world of Harry Potter could light up the tip of their magic wands and illuminate their surroundings. So, too, does LumosVar, a computer program developed by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), “light up” cancer-causing genetic Var-ients, or mutations, illuminating how physicians might best treat their patients.
A study published today in the scientific journal Frontiers in Oncology describes how researchers at TGen, an affiliate of City of Hope, developed LumosVar to create a tool that can accurately identify cancer-causing mutations from patient tumor samples.
In the case of archived samples from patients for which treatment outcome results are known, these represent a treasure trove of information that could accelerate research by investigators and physicians in predicting responses of future patients to particular treatments.
“There are many open questions in precision oncology that can only be answered by collecting large amounts of patient genomic data linked to treatment response and clinical outcomes,” said Dr. Rebecca Halperin, a Research Assistant Professor in TGen’s Quantitative Medicine and Systems Biology Program.
“The approach we outline in this study should enable researchers to use archival samples more effectively. Accurately calling, or identifying, somatic variants — those DNA changes specific to a patient’s cancer — are the first step in any analysis,” said Dr. Halperin, the study’s lead author.
However, archived tumor samples are frequently not accompanied by the patients’ normal — or germline — genetic information, making it difficult to distinguish the patient’s normal DNA variants to their mutated and cancerous DNA changes.
LumosVar is a precise enough tool that it not only can detect the cancerous DNA from a patient sample, but it also can differentiate the adjacent normal DNA that may surround the tumor in the sample. Comparing the patient’s normal DNA from a suspected cancer-causing mutation is critical to eliminating benign, non-cancerous variants in the sample — “false positives” — and ensuring that the tissue sample analysis is as accurate as possible.
A high level of accuracy is needed for physicians to use this information in precision medicine, determining what treatment each individual patient should receive.
“The sequencing of DNA from tissue adjacent to the tumor could help identify somatic, or cancer-causing, mutations when another source of normal tissue is not available,” said Dr. Sara Byron, Research Assistant Professor in TGen’s Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, and also the study’s senior author.
Learn more: AS IF BY MAGIC: TGEN DEVELOPS PROGRAM THAT LIGHTS UP CANCER-CAUSING MUTATIONS
The Latest on: Genomic-based treatments
[google_news title=”” keyword=”genomic-based treatments” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Genomic-based treatments
- Genetic diagnosis can help in childhood hearing loss treatment: Studyon January 28, 2023 at 10:29 am
Understanding the many different genetic causes of childhood-onset hearing loss suggests that genomic testing could aid in treatment planning, including optimal treatment timing.
- Cancer’s Capacity to Resist Treatment Thwartedon January 27, 2023 at 4:00 am
New research shows blocking genomic instability in an aggressive from of cancer—metastatic cutaneous melanoma—may prevent tumors from acquiring genetic diversity that enables them to escape therapy.
- Independence Blue Cross Launches Advanced Network for Gene-Based Therapeuticson January 26, 2023 at 6:00 am
Network includes Gene Therapy Leaders Penn Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Blue Cross (Independence) today announced the ...
- Genomic screening can facilitate early detection of thyroid cancer in patients with RET gene variantson January 25, 2023 at 11:43 pm
Population-based genomic screening can facilitate early detection of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in patients with variants in the RET gene, a new Geisinger study found.
- Genomic screening can help detect thyroid cancer, finds studyon January 25, 2023 at 9:23 am
Population-based genomic screening can facilitate early ... While genomic screening can provide opportunities for early detection and treatment of MTC, more work is needed to ensure patients ...
- VieCure and Labcorp Collaboration Will Improve Clinical Workflow, Increasing Patient Access to Genomic Testingon January 25, 2023 at 8:04 am
VieCure today announced a new collaboration with Labcorp to provide clinicians greater access to precision oncology decision support. This strategic collaboration will support patient-specific ...
- PlumCare RWE partners with Lifebit on Greece's newborn genomic sequencing program, BeginNGSon January 25, 2023 at 7:02 am
LONDON, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifebit, a leading UK-based precision medicine software company ... genome sequencing to diagnose many rare but actionable genetic conditions and identify ...
- Genomic testing can aid in treatment of childhood hearing loss: Researchon January 22, 2023 at 5:55 am
The degree of success of the cochlear implant varied somewhat based on the ... Finally, genetic diagnoses can be more effectively used to inform precision treatment for childhood hearing loss.
- Genomic testing can aid in treatment of childhood hearing loss: Researchon January 22, 2023 at 4:55 am
Advances in understanding the diverse genetic causes of childhood-onset hearing loss suggest that genomic testing could help with treatment planning, including appropriate therapy timing.
- Genetic diagnosis helps guide care of childhood hearing losson January 19, 2023 at 11:13 am
The degree of success of the cochlear implant varied somewhat based on the participant's ... of children to key specialists. Finally, genetic diagnoses can be more effectively used to inform precision ...
via Bing News