Tumour profile tests offer some hope to cancer patients

Washington

WHEN Jen Morey was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2013, her oncologist began treating her with a chemotherapy usually prescribed for that type of cancer. But after a couple of months, the malignancy was still growing, and rapidly. The therapy was failing.

So her doctor ordered a test to identify aspects of the tumour's genetic make-up that might be fuelling its growth.

Ms Morey's oncologist was surprised when the tumour profile test, as the technology is called, showed that the cancerous cells in her colon had a genetic mutation found almost exclusively in breast cancer. So he started her on a drug used mostly for fighting breast cancer.

Tumour profile tests are considered experimental, so they are typically reserved for patients, such as Ms Morey, who have advanced cancer and no treatment…