Researchers make brain tumour breakthrough
Published: July 11, 2006
Attacking brain tumours through genetics is saving lives and revolutionizing cancer treatment, say Calgary researchers spearheading the effort. [American Cancer Society’s Informed Decisions : The Complete Book of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery]
A decade of research by University of Calgary scientists employing 300 test subjects continent-wide has bolstered the use of DNA and molecular tripwires in diagnosing tumours, said Dr. Greg Cairncross.
“Looking down a microscope is no longer sufficient to tell who’s doing well in the future … the way we diagnosed cancer for the past 50 years has changed,” said Cairncross.
What once appeared as the same variant of brain tumour are now sorted out by applying genetics — a practice leading to quicker diagnosis and more effective treatment, he said.
“You wouldn’t want to take treatment the doctor knows ahead of time wouldn’t work,” said Cairncross, adding European researchers have come to similar conclusions.
“It’s genetic changes that drive tumour growth.”
The lifespan of patients benefitting from the genetic composition approach have proven to be two to three times longer than others with tumours that once seemed identical, say U of C scientists.
The discoveries promise to have far wider applications than merely brain tumours, said Dr. Chris Brown, director of the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute.
“It clearly shows the impact of this kind of approach to many diseases,” he said.
“It’s exactly the model that we’re after.”
About 2,000 Canadians are being treated for brain cancer, but genetic diagnosis is also showing promise with lung, breast and colon cancers among others, said Cairncross.
The breakthroughs have prompted the creation of Molecular Diagnostics Program at Calgary’s Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
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