A detailed catalogue of the genetic mutations found in the commonest form of ovarian cancer has been assembled by scientists, promising new treatments that are personalised to individual patients.
The genetic map, which is the most comprehensive yet prepared for any form of cancer, has already helped scientists to identify dozens of existing drugs with potential for treating ovarian tumours.
It has also revealed mutations that could be targets for completely new drugs, and other genes that can help doctors to assess a patient’s prognosis.
The findings, from the Cancer Genome Atlas project, will contribute to a more personalised approach to cancer medicine, by which doctors treat patients according to the genetic mutations that drive the growth and spread of their tumours.
Insights from the