Molecular test could help tailor treatment for lung cancer

MOLECULAR fingerprinting of an individual’s lung cancer may help in tailoring therapy and predicting outcome, studies presented at an international medical conference in Dublin yesterday suggest.

Scientists can now show that protein profiles obtained from a tiny amount of tumour tissue can be used to predict the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Involvement of the lymph nodes is a crucial factor in determining treatment strategies.

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths among men and women in Ireland. On average, 1,580 new cases are diagnosed annually and 1,500 people die from the disease.