This article, by Ron Winslow, is based on a study published in the current issue of the journal, Science Translational Medicine.

The research team is at The Johns Hopkins University’s Kimmel Cancer Center.

The key point here is that— all the buzz notwithstanding about personalized medicine (using genes to develop treatment)— this may be one of the first discoveries that actually results in tailored treatment for tumors.

Again, this still is a “maybe” discovery. It shows real promise.

The Wall Street Journal

“In a fresh advance for the burgeoning field of personalized medicine, researchers have developed a blood test based on the DNA of tumors that could help tailor treatment for individual cancer patients.

“The report, announced Thursday, represents one of the most tangible examples yet of how the ability to sequence a person’s entire genetic code could have a direct impact on patient care. There have been a flurry of reports on new sequencing technology that is yielding enormous amounts of information about genetics and disease, but that has yet to deliver much in the way of new treatment strategies.

“For cancer patients there hasn’t been much utility so far. This may prove to be one of the first useful approaches,” said Victor Velculescu, co-director of the cancer biology program at Johns Hopkins University’s Kimmel Cancer Center and senior author of the new study.”

Source:  Wall Street Journal, February 19, 2010 (Reference in story: Science Translational Medicine).