Mutations to our DNA cause different types of cancers, which means that abnormal cells in the human body start to grow and divide uncontrollably. These cells may form a mass, called a tumor.
In the past decades doctors were able to understand around 1% of the whole genome, which meant that a large percent of cancer patients were treated without knowing what exactly caused their cancer. Extensive scientific research, which lasted for more than a decade, was used to identify the rest 99% of the puzzle.
The Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium made a historic breakthrough by analyzing the genetic code of 2,658 cancers.
The implication is that effective treatment can be tailored to meet the needs of every patient.
Scientists have found the first patterns of genetic mutations, which showed that more than 20% of the mutations developed years before cancer is detected. This means that new diagnostic tests can be developed, and that there will be a much higher survival rate.
