Advances in molecular pathology are changing how we understand cancer in some really amazing ways.
1. Precision Medicine:
Molecular pathology helps us find specific genetic changes that affect how tumors grow and respond to treatment. For example, in breast cancer, if there’s a lot of a protein called HER2, doctors can choose special treatments like trastuzumab (also known as Herceptin) to help fight the cancer.
2. Biomarker Discovery:
Thanks to new technologies, we are discovering new markers, called biomarkers, through DNA and protein studies. These markers help us catch cancer early, understand how serious it might be, and check if treatments are working. For instance, changes in the EGFR gene are important for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because they help guide targeted treatments.
3. Understanding the Tumor Microenvironment:
Recent research shows how important the environment around a tumor is for cancer growth. By studying how immune cells and other parts of the tumor interact, we can learn more about how cancers avoid the immune system and continue to grow.
4. Pathways and Mechanisms:
Molecular profiling helps scientists map out the processes involved in how tumors develop. For example, there's a pathway called PI3K/AKT/mTOR that often doesn’t work properly in different types of cancer.
All these advancements not only help doctors take better care of patients but also open up new opportunities for research into how cancer works.
Advances in molecular pathology are changing how we understand cancer in some really amazing ways.
1. Precision Medicine:
Molecular pathology helps us find specific genetic changes that affect how tumors grow and respond to treatment. For example, in breast cancer, if there’s a lot of a protein called HER2, doctors can choose special treatments like trastuzumab (also known as Herceptin) to help fight the cancer.
2. Biomarker Discovery:
Thanks to new technologies, we are discovering new markers, called biomarkers, through DNA and protein studies. These markers help us catch cancer early, understand how serious it might be, and check if treatments are working. For instance, changes in the EGFR gene are important for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because they help guide targeted treatments.
3. Understanding the Tumor Microenvironment:
Recent research shows how important the environment around a tumor is for cancer growth. By studying how immune cells and other parts of the tumor interact, we can learn more about how cancers avoid the immune system and continue to grow.
4. Pathways and Mechanisms:
Molecular profiling helps scientists map out the processes involved in how tumors develop. For example, there's a pathway called PI3K/AKT/mTOR that often doesn’t work properly in different types of cancer.
All these advancements not only help doctors take better care of patients but also open up new opportunities for research into how cancer works.