What are the Applications in Cancer Research and Treatment?
Allele specific copy number analysis has several important applications in cancer: - Identification of Driver Mutations: By pinpointing regions with allelic imbalances, researchers can identify potential driver mutations that contribute to cancer development. - Tumor Heterogeneity: This technique helps in understanding the genetic diversity within a tumor, which is crucial for predicting treatment resistance and disease progression. - Personalized Medicine: The analysis can guide the selection of targeted therapies by identifying actionable genetic alterations specific to an individual's tumor. - Minimal Residual Disease: Monitoring changes in allele specific copy number can be used to detect minimal residual disease and assess treatment efficacy.