Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
11:02
Detecting Somatic Genetic Alterations in Tumor Specimens by Exon Capture and Massively Parallel Sequencing
Published on: October 18, 2013
20.0K
Somatic Mutation Analysis of Human Cancers: Challenges in Clinical Practice
Gregory J Tsongalis1,2, William B Coleman3
1Laboratory for Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|September 19, 2017
Summary
Somatic mutation testing in cancer provides genomic insights for precision medicine. This analysis aids oncologists in selecting targeted therapies, improving cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Somatic mutation analysis is now standard in human cancer care.
- Genomic information drives precision medicine in oncology.
- Understanding genetic alterations is key for effective cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the implementation of somatic mutation testing in clinical practice.
- To highlight the role of genomic profiling in selecting cancer therapies.
- To explain the nuances of integrating molecular diagnostics into oncology.
Main Methods:
- Review of current practices in somatic mutation analysis.
- Discussion of genomic profiling techniques for cancer patients.
- Analysis of therapeutic strategy selection based on mutation data.
Main Results:
- Genomic profiling enables informed therapeutic choices.
- Somatic mutation data supports the combination of traditional and targeted therapies.
- Implementation of testing requires careful consideration of clinical nuances.
Conclusions:
- Somatic mutation testing is crucial for personalized cancer care.
- Genomic information empowers oncologists to optimize treatment plans.
- Integrating molecular diagnostics enhances precision oncology outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
15.0K
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
15.0K
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
793
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
793
02:18Cancer
54.8K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
54.8K
02:43Mouse Models of Cancer Study
6.6K
Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
6.6K
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
2.0K
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
2.0K
01:35Mutations
44.8K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
44.8K