Researchers at the IRB in Barcelona have found a signature of 4-6 genes able to predict the aggressivity of colon tumours, by analysing the tissue surrounding the tumour cells.
The scientists are currently developing a test that enables the identification of patients at risk of relapse after surgical removal of the tumour by measuring these found genes. They also propose to test in patients a particular drug that blocks the metastatic capacity of colorectal cancers in mice. This drug has been already tested using organoids derived from patients’ samples.
Source:
- Discovery of the genetic fingerprint of aggressive colon tumours – IRB Scientific news.
- Calon A et al. “Stromal gene expression defines poor-prognosis subtypes in colorectal cancer” (2015) Nat Genet Apr;47(4):320-9. DOI: 10.1038/ng.3225.
On a more funny note, have a look at the video done this last summer by researchers at the IRB Barcelona!
Any exciting research (or videos!) done over at your laboratory or institute?
We would like to know!
2 responses
Genetic fingerprint ? That’s amazing. This can be used for cancer diagnose.
Indeed, Sherlin. A bit more of clinical validations needed to really be able to link a given set of biomarkers to a given diagnosis / prognosis / response, but research is advancing towards this direction.