An Arizona State University researcher is part of an international team that has discovered a new way to test how cancer progresses, which can determine the need for treatment.
The ASU researcher, Diego Mallo, says the team used a mathematical model to track a tumor’s evolutionary history.
“So usually, you know, when we talk about tracking evolution, we usually use mutations that are modifications of the DNA. So if you imagine the DNA like a book, it will be the content of the book,” he said.
He says such techniques used can help in other medical research.
“I am working on using these techniques for some other diseases, basically using multiple samples from the same patient instead of just one like we did in this study,” he said.
By continuing to develop the test, researchers potentially create a solution and reduce the need for biopsies.
Mallo says the goal is to develop a cost-effective way to follow how cancer develops. The group’s study was published in the journal Nature.
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