Hadassah Cancer Research Institute at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, announced last month that researchers have designed a genomic analysis tool for cancer patients that enables advanced selection of drugs targeting schemes for cancer genes, opening the door to improved personalised medicine in cancer treatment.

The science behind this breakthrough tool is a computational biology method to assess the relative effect of each position-specific point mutation in 535 cancer genes, by quantifying the relative biological and clinical importance of point mutations. This enables the prioritisation of genes for targeting and will lead to the development of new, more effective combination therapies, further improving the prognosis for cancer patients.

A new study led by Hadassah’s Dr. Shai Rosenberg, Head of HCRI’s Laboratory for Cancer Computational Biology, and by his research student Dr. Jacob Landau, demonstrates the power of shared cancer datasets and computational biology in advancing cancer care toward truly personalised and effective treatments for patients. By quantitatively assessing the relative biological and clinical importance of somatic mutations, gene targeting can be prioritised, maximising treatment outcomes and reducing the risk of side effects.

“The availability of genomic analysis for cancer patients, coupled with advances in targeted therapies, holds great promise for personalised medicine approaches in cancer treatment,” said Dr. Shai Rosenberg. “Our study takes this one step further, by developing a method to assess the relative impact of each somatic mutation bringing us closer to truly personalised care for cancer patients.”

“This is a major milestone in the fight against cancer. By allowing us to prioritise and tailor treatment based on a patient’s specific genetic mutations, we have the potential to improve outcomes and change the lives of those affected by this disease,” said Prof. Aron Popovtzer, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Head of the Sharett Institute of Oncology at Hadassah Hospital.

Editor’s Notes

An excerpt from an article first published in PRNewswire – SOURCE The Hadassah Cancer Research Institute

For more information on the Hadassah Cancer Research Institute, contact:

Amalia Herszkowicz

Hadassah Cancer Research Institute (HCRI)

amaliah@hadassah.org.il