[TerryH]

Cancer varies even within a single tumor

by TerryH on Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:13 am

This news is being covered by a wide range of mainstream news outlets.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/08/cancer-gene-mutation-more-complex-than-previously-thought/

The first couple of paragraphs of the article summarize nicely the key news:

"Taking a sample or biopsy from just one part of a tumor might not give a full picture of its genetic diversity and may explain why doctors, despite using genetically targeted drugs, are often unable to save patients whose cancer has spread, scientists said.

"A study by British researchers found there are more genetic differences than similarities between biopsies taken from separate areas of the same tumor, and yet further gene differences in samples taken from secondary tumors.

"That might help explain why, despite recent development of a wave of highly targeted drugs designed to tackle cancers of specific genetic types, the prognosis remains poor for many patients with so-called solid-tumor disease like breast, lung, or kidney cancer that has spread to others parts of the body."

Does anyone know if this also holds true for myeloma? For example, if you take a sample from one myeloma bone lesion, is it often the case that the genetics of that lesion are different from the genetics found in other myeloma bone lesions in the body?

[Ben S.]

Re: Cancer varies even within a single tumor

by Ben S. on Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:37 pm

This gives more weight to the four-peptide therapeutic vaccine trial that Dana-Farber is attempting. It will target more than one biological marks.