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Matching Cancers With the Best Chemical Treatments

Posted by samzenpus on from the the-machine-says-take-pill-a dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "When oncologists meet a new patient affected by a cancer, they have to take decisions about the best possible treatment. Now, U.S. researchers have devised an algorithm which matches tumor profiles to best treatments. They've used a panel of 60 diverse human cancer cell lines from the National Cancer Institute — called NCI-60 — to develop their "coexpression extrapolation (COXEN) system." As said one researcher, "we believe we have found an effective way to personalize cancer therapy." Preliminary results have been encouraging and clinical trials are now planned."

5 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. Whats next? by ZachMG · · Score: 1, Funny

    now that they are personalizing the treatment can you get any other flavors of kemo?

    --
    There is hopeful symbolism in the fact that flags do not wave in a vacuum. --Arthur C. Clarke
  2. Does it taste like chicken? by r00t · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine this. You go to the supermarket. Right there, next to the pork chops and sirloin steaks, is a cancer. A real human cancer. No creature was ever killed for it, so it's even vegan and PETA would love it.

    You take it home, grill it up, and... well how does it taste? Do different types of cancer have different flavors? Which ones are good?

    The stuff is damn easy, too easy even, to grow. We might as well make use of it.

  3. Ooo dirty by Null+Nihils · · Score: 1, Funny

    I bet you they're running the COXEN in some boxen.

    I bet you the COXEN is a big... application, and the boxen are tight...ly... integrated... if they run Linux. Otherwise the boxen are hosen. Or something.

    *ducks*

  4. Obligatory Simpsons... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Some tumors contain teeth, hair, and other wacky fun items.

    Marge: But the grocery store sells meat for 35 cents a pound.
    Lisa: And it doesn't have teeth and hair in it.
    Homer: Those are prizes.
  5. Re:Data type correction... by quarkie68 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Replace int with long int to be more accurate. :-)