Fine Tuning Medical Treatment to Personal Genetics

Matching Tumors to Drugs is a Technology Review article which discusses personalized medicine; the idea that treatment can be tailored to one's individual genetic make-up. Malignant tumors vary and the variations hace something to do with genetic variations particular to individuals. Matching the type of chemotherapy administered so as to maximize effective treatment is the goal of personalized medicine.

Cancer drugs currently used are effective destroyers of cancer cells. The problem is they alo kill healthy non-cancerous cells. Making drugs that are more patient specific can diminish undesireable side effects. For example, mutations are specific to indivduals. Yours may differ from mine. By using mechanisms, already existing within our bodies, to regulate the expression of specific genes we can counter the effects of harmful mutations. An example would be a class of proteins known as inhibitors which, as the name implies, inhibit the expression of genes coding for another type of protein. If that other type has been corrupted by mutations to its coding sequence then inhibition of that gene's expression can avert deleterious effects on an individual's health. Perfecting methods designed to alter genetic effects according to one's individual needs is the goal of personalized medicine.