Newly identified fusion genes in lung and colorectal cancer may guide treatment with 'targeted' drugs

Novel gene abnormalities discovered in a subpopulation of lung and colorectal tumors could potentially identify patients with a good chance of responding to highly specific “targeted” drugs already in use for treating other cancers, scientists report. The genetic alterations – pieces of two genes fused together - showed up in a massive search of the DNA in stored tumor samples of non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer, said researchers. These specific genetic abnormalities had not been previously linked to the two cancer types.

Read the whole article on Science Daily

More from Science Daily