Medical researchers have consistently proven personalized cancer treatment through studies as contributing factor to the process of maintaining psychological balance and value of life in patients who suffer from cancer. The research essay examines the significance and implications of DNA sequencing since it is the basis for personalized cancer treatment (Roth, 50). Apparently, DNA sequencing is the process used to map out the sequence of nucleotides that encompass a DNA strand. The paper demonstrates systematically, parts of DNA that are sequenced, and why it is such an important process for humanity. DNA sequencing is a new technology and has been known since the invention of the microscope (Medical Express). The microscope has enhanced the study of human, animal and plant cells, including cells of any living organism.
Introduction
The discovery of DNA sequencing and the part it has played in laying the personalized foundation for cancer treatment is one of the greatest successes of researchers in the field of science. Every cell has some small piece of information-holding substance called DNA at its core (nucleus). Since the discovery of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) back in 1994, it has become a household word. Different scientists have come up with diverse ways of opening the secrets of DNA especially following the unearthing of the double-helix shape of DNA strand in 1953 (Fitzgerald-Hayes, 291). It is an interesting scenario seeing how DNA is comprised of a series of DNA nucleotides, which are ladder like units. Scores of scientists have done thorough research on the link between DNA sequencing and the basis of personalized cancer treatment among various healthy facilities in the United States. Incidentally, much improvement has been realized in the venture of this kind of research with several scientists coming up with promising outcomes (Fitzgerald-Hayes, 291). In addition, scientists have diversified their knowledge about DNA composition and the sequencing in conducting other studies, which attempt to provide solution to various health problems affecting humans, animal and plants. In essence, the knowledge about DNA sequencing helps in understanding the characteristics that human beings exhibit, some of which influence their behavior and association with the rest of people in the society.
Literature Review
Scholars and scientists have done research and search about DNA composition as well as its sequencing. Such researches attempt to provide solution to common problems affecting humans, animals and plants. A section of scientists conducts research about the DNA sequencing on grounds of providing solution to health-related issues. Others participate in a research undertaking for knowledge sake about the nature of DNA, its composition, characteristics, and implications as well as application in various biological processes in living organisms (Medical Express).
At the School of Medicine, Washington University, scholars in the field of medicine use dominant DNA equipment for sequencing in identifying the existence of mutations at the root of a tumor. They also consider DNA technology as key to personalizing the treatment of the patient’s tumor. The doctors plotted the process of genetic advancement of the malady as well as monitoring how it responded to treatment. According to Elaine Mardis, the team of medical researchers is on the verge of examining the tumor samples carefully and finding pertinent information in them because they sequenced mainly for research studies that are primarily leaning towards discoveries. Elaine, who is also a co-director of PhD at the institute, attests to the crucial role the institute has played during treatment of the patient specifically in determining the ‘driver’ mutations besides determining whether application of treatment has helped remove cells carrying mutations (Medical Express). The work acts as a guide to the future design of the clinical trials of cancer with decisions concerning treatment based on the outcomes of sequencing. Elaine Mardis alongside her colleagues have managed to sequence all DNA in an attempt to eliminate tumor cells from approximately over 700 patients with cancer-related complications. They compared the genetic sequences that tumor cells exhibited in relation to the sequence of healthy cells belonging to the same individual (Fitzgerald-Hayes, 291).
Accordingly, the medical practitioners are better placed to identify mutations underlying the cancer of every patient. The sufficient information obtained through sequencing will influence researcher’s decision to push for the process of reclassifying tumors depending on genetic composition instead of their location within the human body (Roth, 50). Incidentally, patients with breast cancer exhibit numerous driver mutations in their genes that were previously not associated with breast tumors. Such genes have always been discovered in the lung or skin cancer, prostate, colorectal and leukemia among other cancers (Roth, 50). These researchers have approved drugs for various cancers except for cases of breast cancer whose cure is yet to be established. They recommend drugs such as imatinib, ruxolitinib and sunitinib. Although the institute has accomplished substantial progress, it may require change of paradigm to enable oncologists evaluate the probable merits of cancer cure. She confirms that most clinical trials involve randomly assigning patterns to a treatment regimen; would call for choosing drugs depending on the existing alterations in the tumor of every patient.
Mardis acknowledges that the treatment options left for individual patients could not fit properly into the confines of clinical trial. Hence, certain level of flexibility is necessary. The team of medical research pundits mapped genetic development of fatal ailment called leukemia alongside coming up with clues, which recommended that cancer treatment aimed at mutations that usually develop early as the disease progresses.
Cancer patients have an immediate perspective of their own suffering and death. Hence, they should not only be accorded the right to know the diagnosis but also be part of critical decisions about treatment of the disease. In situations where life expectancy is uncertain and efficacy of therapeutic measures in doubt, the physician makes fundamental decisions (Roth, 50).
The researchers revealed that cancer undergoes evolution with tumors acquiring new mutations. The tumors will however retain the group of mutations making the cells to turn cancerous at the beginning. Following their discovery, it is thus clear that drugs meant for treatment of cancer are more effective when directed toward genetic changes during the early stages of development of the dangerous disease. Certain drugs whose target is cancer cells that would evolve in the future may have very little the disease. This is because they lack the capacity to destroy all tumor cells (Medical Express). The full genome of cancer cells must be sequenced since it is vital to piecing together exact picture of evolution of cancer cells evolve. Conversely, if the research had only considered small portion of genome for sequencing, they would then be deficient in statistical power. The statistical power helps trail mutations frequency over time.
Washington University researchers have also uncovered the possibility of sequencing being instrumental in predicting women’s ability to respond to treatment with the inhibitors popularly referred to as aromatase. In particular, medical practitioners recommend the estrogen-lowering drugs as they shrivel breast tumors before surgery. Doctors on the other hand have not been in a better position to predict the actual beneficiaries among patients suffering from cancer (Medical Express). Moreover, canvassers identified substantive transformation to the genomic, which occurred in responsive patients following the decision to sequence breast tumors of patients before as well as after aromatase inhibitor therapy. Overall, personal or targeted cancer treatments always rely on high technologies, which includes DNA sequencing, proteomics, and expression arrays to identify the critical pathways for cancer cell survival.
Conclusion
Although many medical researchers and consultants have conducted numerous researches and experiment about DNA sequencing and the basis of setting groundwork for personalized treatment of cancer, a lot still need to be done in attempt to provide solution to all forms of cancer (Fitzgerald-Hayes, 291). Researchers should come up with treatment for lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer among other forms of cancer. Treatment of breast cancer remains a challenge to researchers because drugs that have been discovered to treat cancer have the capacity treat all forms of the disease except for the case of breast cancer. This is particularly with reference to research conducted by the School of Medicine, Washington University located in St. Louis (Fitzgerald-Hayes, 291). However, the institution has taken a bold move of fighting the killer disease by designating nearly 66 cancer centers. Researcher of DNA sequencing does not only use these facilities alone or those dealing with cancer treatment, but also open for other thousands of researchers and scholars in other areas of study. Scientists perform a wide range of intense laboratory research regarding the origin and development of cancer.
Works Cited
Medical Express. DNA sequencing lays foundation for personalized cancer treatment. April, 1, 2012. Retrieved from:
http://digg.com/newsbar/Sex/dna_sequencing_lays_foundation_for_personalized_cancer_treatment
National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health. DNA Sequencing lays Foundation for Personalized Cancer Treatment. Retrieved from:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-04/wuso-dsl033012.php
Roth, Jack A. Gene-based Therapies for Cancer. New York: Springer, 2010. Internet resource 275 pgs
Fitzgerald-Hayes, Molly, and Frieda Reichsman. Dna and Biotechnology. Burlington, MA: Academic Press/Elsevier, 2010. Print. 291
DeVita, Vincent T, Theodore S. Lawrence, and Steven A. Rosenberg. Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology : Primer of the Molecular Biology of Cancer. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011. Print.
