genetic mutations

Mutation Order in Tumor Genes Affects Cancer Outcome

Findings could one day lead to more personalized treatment decisions

February 11, 2015 |By Christine Gorman

The experiment hinges on being able to look at single cells of a tumor. 
Credit: Vonschonertagen/Thinkstock

For the first time, researchers have proved that the order in which cancer genes mutate affects the type of malignancy that results and its response to treatment. Although the findings are specific to a particular group of preleukemic disorders known as myeloproliferative neoplasms, they suggest that scientists studying other types of tumors should start taking into account the timing of the underlying genetic mutations as a potentially critical factor in establishing an accurate diagnosis as well as in making choices about treatment. The study, which was conducted by investigators in the U.K., Spain and Germany, was published in the February 11 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine./.../