Tumour-agnostic treatment A new approach to cancer care that is based on the cancer’s genetic information, which cause the cancer to develop and grow. These treatments may be used across a range of cancer types, regardless of where in the body the cancer started. Whole genome sequencing Whole Genome Sequencing is a test to find the sequence of someone’s unique 3 billion letters of DNA. Some rare diseases are caused by as little as a single change (variant), like a spelling mistake, in someone’s DNA. Looking at the genome of a person affected by a rare disease can help find which DNA changes might be causing the problem. In cancer, the tumour cells have developed a different genome to the healthy cells. Comparing the normal and cancer genomes may give clues about ways to treat the cancer. Sequencing Sequencing is a technique that is used to ‘read’ DNA. It finds the order of the letters of DNA (A, T, C and G), one by one. Somatic mutation An alteration in DNA that occurs after conception. Somatic mutations can occur in any of the cells of the body except the germ cells (sperm and egg) and therefore are not passed on to children. These alterations can (but do not always) cause cancer or other diseases. Targeted treatment A type of treatment that targets specific types of cancer cells with fewer effects on healthy cells. They are often directed at biomarkers that contribute to the growth, spread and survival of cancer cells. Also called targeted therapy. ABBREVIATIONS &
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