Developments in cancer management by innovative genomics. 2006 report of the National Cancer Consortium

Research on developing molecular diagnostics for hereditary cancers resulted in establishing diagnostic services for familiar polyposis and non-polyposis patients (mutation determination of APC, MYH, STK11, SMAD4, MLH1, MSH2). In familiar testicular cancers the role of gr/gr gene on Y chromosome was identified. Molecular diagnostic tool was established to monitor the progression of follicular lymphoma using Bcl-2/IgH fusion sequences. Molecular diagnostic tools were developed to monitor circulating endothelial precursor cells (CEP) as well and the technique was tested in lung cancer patients. In malignant melanoma we have tested several potential novel markers among which ryanodine receptor seems to be a promising one, while the functional P2X7 receptor may serve as a therapeutic target. We have determined the tyrosine kinase "kinome" profile of HER-2-amplified breast cancers. Furthermore, the "kinome" profile was found to be characteristic for head and neck cancers of various anatomical location. Based on previous studies on the anti-migratory and antimetastatic potential of low-molecular-weight heparins, we have identified short heparin-derived oligosaccharides with maintained antimetastatic- but non-anticoagulant potentials. Pharmacogenomic studies on the role of polymorphism of the serine-hydroxymethyl-transferase (SHMT) gene in the efficacy of 5-FU and FOLFIRI protocols of colorectal cancer patients revealed a significant effect resulting in altered overall survival as well.