New methods of detecting cancer and identifying genetic risk of disease
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New methods of detecting cancer and identifying genetic risk of disease

Paul Scotting Associate professor and reader in development and cancer biology, School of Biology, University of Nottingham
Penny Howard Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy, University of Nottingham

Paul Scotting and Penny Howard outline the progress made in diagnosis and treatment since the Human Genome Project, and how resources are being targeted

The previous articles in this series focused on the genetics of cancer and cancer risk, and on the issues associated with assessing cancer risk. In this article, the latest and future uses of genetic analysis in assessing individuals’ risk of developing cancer are discussed. The way in which new knowledge, much of it resulting from the complete sequencing of the first full human genome in 2003, is leading to improvements in cancer diagnosis will also be reviewed. Finally, this article looks at how genetic advances are leading to new treatments and to selection of the most appropriate treatment for each patient.

Cancer Nursing Practice. 12, 10, 16-21. doi: 10.7748/cnp2013.12.12.10.16.e1046

Correspondence

paul.scotting@nottingham.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

All fees for this series of articles have been donated to Macmillan nurses

Received: 23 October 2013

Accepted: 11 November 2013

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