A molecule to know patients' response to chemotherapy treatment

2010/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika
• Anatomia/Fisiologia

In large amounts of 451 microRNA molecules, patients with stomach cancer respond better to chemotherapy treatment. They also survive longer. This conclusion was reached at the Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA) in Pamplona. "This molecule could become a biomarker of response to treatment," explains CIMA Pharmacogenomics Laboratory principal investigator Dr. Jesús García-Foncillas.

It is known that patients with a number or other microRNA molecules give a very different response to a particular drug. This type of research, conducted by pharmacogenetics, is already being studied, for example, the effect of K-RAS gene mutations on colon cancer or EGFR gene mutations on lung cancer. "These studies help guide tailored treatments for each patient," explains García-Foncillas.