How is Genomic Information Used in Cancer Treatment?
Understanding the genomic alterations in cancer cells has led to the development of targeted therapies and personalized medicine. By identifying specific mutations or alterations in a patient's tumor, clinicians can tailor treatments that specifically target these changes. For example, drugs like imatinib (Gleevec) target the BCR-ABL fusion protein in chronic myeloid leukemia, while trastuzumab (Herceptin) targets HER2-positive breast cancer.
