In order to be able to utilize "cancer genomic medicine," which uses genetic information for cancer diagnosis and treatment, to pediatric cancer, a group from the University of Tokyo and other organizations has decided to start research to investigate genetic abnormalities in childhood cancer using a technology called "whole genome analysis" that analyzes all genetic information.
This research will begin in earnest in November by Professor Motohiro Kato of the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, the National Cancer Center, and other groups.
In the treatment of cancer, "cancer genomic medicine", which examines genes and leads to accurate diagnosis and selection of optimal therapeutic drugs, is attracting attention, but since the commonly used tests mainly target genetic abnormalities in adult cancer, abnormalities unique to childhood cancer cannot be sufficiently investigated.
For this reason, the group will conduct "whole genome analysis" to analyze all the genetic information of cancer cells with the cooperation of about 11 pediatric cancer patients nationwide to examine genetic abnormalities and verify whether they are useful for highly accurate diagnosis and treatment choice.
In addition to investigating new genetic abnormalities associated with childhood cancer, the company hopes to anonymize the data and provide it to pharmaceutical companies for use in the development of therapeutic drugs.
Professor Kato, who is in charge of the research, said, "Genomic information is important in selecting treatment methods for childhood cancer, and I hope that this will lead to results that will be useful for current pediatric cancer patients and for patients five or ten years from now."