One gene, one disease??

by Beyond Lab

Obviously not. Life is so complicated that it is impossible for one gene to be solely responsible for one function and therefore one disease. Almost all genes identified have multiple domains (function units) with different "potential" function. So, mess up one gene would certainly have more than one consequences. This has been confirmed in many species, from bakers yeast to human.

So, it is almost impossible to predict the occurrence of one disease just by analyzing the function/structure of one gene or its product. It has to be a combination of various information. With that being said, is it helpful to analyze one gene if it is know that this particular gene (or its mutant formats) always associates with certain disease. Absolutely!. But how accurate is it? No one knows when it comes to one individual -- yes or no. Probability means nothing for one individual.

Why am I saying this? Because one company Orion Genomics just licensed JHU technology to analyze IGF2 gene (insulin-like growth factor 2) with the hope to be able to predict the outcome (progression) of colorectal cancer. -- Beyond Lab personally thinks this is not very wise. I don't know how they will promote their future product to analyze one single gene. --Most current genetic or genomic detection products for breast cancer all involve many genes. One gene? Unlikely mean anything.

colorectal cancer and patient personal genomics

by Beyond Lab

Here, another example showed that colorectal cancer patients with normal K-RAS gene have better response to a FDA approved drug (an EGFR antibody if you are interested).

The study was a multi-center multinational prospective clinical trial (Phase II) of Cetuximab where about 600 colorectal cancer patients were examined for K-RAS gene mutations and related to response to drug treatment (in combination with standard chemotherapy). --More wild-type K-RAS carriers showed reduced cancer and decreased risk of cancer progression. The numbers are not dramatic, but are significant considering the number of patients studied.

This kind of study will gradually build the foundations of personalized medicine and the eventual application of personal genomes (genomics). As mentioned in one of my previous posts, those personal genomics companies should collaborate with researchers to expand this kind of correlation studies (especially with NIH funding is limited).