AFTER CANCER: PREVENTING NEW CANCERS. GENE PROBE
What Is a Gene Probe?
A gene probe is a new and exciting laboratory tool that identifies an abnormality in the genes of the tumor cells or the normal cells. These abnormalities are related to the development of certain
types of cancer. In research settings, the gene probe is being used to
• help make specific cancer diagnoses
• help better assess the prognosis
How Will Gene Probes Help Cancer Patients?
When gene probes become available in nonresearch settings, they will have an enormous impact on
• how various cancers are diagnosed and staged
• how the best therapy is chosen for each individual
• what treatment options are available
Knowing which cancers are likely to be cured with relatively little treatment and which are likely to act very aggressively alb ear the doctors to fit the treatment to the cancer better. Patients whose gene probe predicts that they will do well with little treatment will be spared overtreatment. Patients whose gene probe predicts that the only chance is with very aggressive treatment will perhaps be
spared recurrence or a poor outcome from treatment that was not aggressive enough.
Gene probes may allow more sensitive follow-up of cancer, making possible earlier detection of recurrence and, therefore, earlier treatment. Most important, it is hoped that gene probes will provide the path to safe, effective, curative therapy by permitting replacement of defective genes that cause cancer.
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