Mayo Clinic Researchers Exploring Ways To Stop Late-Stage Cancer
A research team led by Mayo Clinic oncologists has discovered a new way to identify and potentially stop the progression of many late-stage cancers.
According to Dr. Konstantinos Lazaridis, associate director of the Center for Individualized Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, the new approach can “turn off” genes that prevent cancer from growing. Bladder, blood, bone, brain, lung and kidney cancers are all examples that oncologists say could be stopped.
“This is a huge step,” said Lazaridis. “We have to understand what is behind this process to attack it effectively.”
Researchers are studying the normal DNA of cancer patients in contrast to the mutated DNA found in their tumors. The method, called epigenomics, is still experimental. It has not been approved yet by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
Epigenomics is the name for the complex biological process used by individual cells to read their genetic blueprints and determine what type of tissue to become.
Researchers are focusing on determining how and when certain genes are turned on and off and analyzing those changes across the many different genes in an individual. They will then develop ways to use the information as a potential cancer treatment.
“We may be able to screen people earlier with new methods that can prevent the development of cancer if we know what predisposes them to developing the disease,” said Lazaridis.
The Mayo Clinic is currently developing individualized, experimental treatments for testing.
Source: USA Today