New cancer classification system shows promise as lifesaver

SFGate ^ | 08/09/2014 | Victoria Colliver

[SeekAndFind]

Classifying cancer tumors by their molecular structure rather than the tissue or organ where they were found, such as the breast or bladder, may lead to more accurate diagnoses and potentially better treatments and outcomes for patients, a new study finds.

In the largest undertaking to analyze and compare different cancer types based on genomic sequencing, researchers found at least 10 percent of tumors - and possibly as high as 30 to 50 percent - would be identified differently if oncologists determined their diagnoses by a tumor's molecular makeup.

"The old system classifying cancer by the tissue of where it arose is outdated. It's been in existence for over 100 years now, and we know it doesn't merit the true nature of the cancer," said Dr. Christopher Benz, a professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato and co-senior author of the study.

The results were published online Thursday in the journal Cell.

The project is part of a national effort, the Cancer Genome Atlas project, which started in 2006 and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. It brings together more than 150 scientists from around the country, including researchers from the Buck Institute and UC Santa Cruz, with the goal of studying the genomic changes in more than 20 cancer types.

12 types of cancer

In this latest study to come out of the effort, researchers analyzed more than 3,500 samples from 12 cancer types that had been sequenced. Those included breast, kidney, bladder, brain, colon, endometrial and lung, among others.

[exDemMom]

Probably the most accurate system will end up being a description that includes both tissue type and molecular characterization.

There is potential to develop cancer diagnostic kits here, to identify and possibly characterize cancers in a more timely fashion. Faster diagnosis=more lives saved.

[sportutegrl]

Prepare for pink ribbon protesters, as this will mean that some dollars meant for breast cancer research will end up helping those evil prostate cancer sufferers.

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for posting this.

[Tired of Taxes]

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[the OlLine Rebel]

Maybe, but they will have to realize as the article states that “breast cancer” is not necessarily different from “prostate cancer”.

As for the resentment feeding, I appreciate it, but to be honest I believe thT overall prostate cancer is easier than breast cancer, more treatable. Breast overall isn’t too bad, but it’s worse a bit than prostate. If you factor in rare BC such as Inflammatory BC, which my sister had, the danger is much worse. IBC is one of those things that made me question why we worry about where a cancer showed up first (apparently). It is completely unlike typical BC, and doesn’t include tumors.

[Nowhere Man]

I know the feeling, I lost my mother last November 18th to IBC and it was triple negative. She did have a left mastectomy but still it spread to her brain and on her lungs and liver. I really miss her. B-(

[Mears]

A MOST interesting article.

Thanks for the ping.

.

[redleghunter]

Could you please add the following veteran and gentlemen to your ping list:

ConorMacNessa

[Tired of Taxes]

Absolutely. Thanks, redleghunter. Welcome aboard, ConorMacNessa. May God bless you, your wife, and family. :-)

[Tired of Taxes]

Sorry. I just checked - and ConorMacNessa is still on the ping list I have. So, he should be receiving pings. If he isn’t, please let me know.

I’ll ping everyone with the latest list, just to be sure that everyone has it.