A study published in Nature Communications discovered how a genomic approach to colorectal cancer could improve a patient's prognosis and quality of life.
Mark Lawler, PhD, lead study author and professor at Belfast, Ireland-based Queen's University, and colleagues showed how defining gene signatures within bowel cancer cells allows for the development of prognostic and predictive bowel cancer markers.
Here's what you should know.
1. Researchers analyzed molecular and genetic data from patients' tissues and "discovered that there are different subtypes of bowel cancer," Dr. Philip Dunne, Queen's University senior research fellow, said in a release.
When researchers identify the cancer cells biological makeup, they can tailor treatments to each specific patient, maximizing effectiveness while limiting side effects.
2. Researchers performed the research as part of the MRC-Cancer Research UK stratified medicine consortium. Several researchers throughout the U.K. were part of the research.
3. The researchers are going to further develop their research with hopes of making it a standard practice.