Matching Cancers With the Best Chemical Treatments

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."

Comments

Algorithm kindly sponsored by Pfizer

[Anonymous Coward]

int drug_choice_algorithm(){
   int our_most_expensive_drug = 1;
   int other_cheaper_option = 0;

   if(patient_has_insurance()){
       return our_most_expensive_drug;
   }
   else {
       if (patient_is_rich()){
           return our_most_expensive_drug;
       }
   }
   return our_most_expensive_drug;
}