The rapidly evolving field of cancer genomics is driven by new, emerging technologies that have led to the realization that an individual's cancer is unique and likely most effectively treated by personalized therapies that address the genetic characteristics of a given tumor and a patient's pharmacogenomic profile. The technologies driving cancer genomics can be broadly divided into approaches that determine genetic, epigenetic (e.g. DNA methylation, histone modification), transcriptional, or protein expression changes between normal and cancerous tissue. Cancer genomics as a field has now made it possible to pinpoint differences not only between tumors among individuals but between cancer cells within the same individual over time and during the course of the cancer treatment.
This book addresses how recent technological advances are shaping how we diagnose and treat cancer. Built on the historical context of cancer genetics over the past 30 years, the book provides a snapshot of the current issues and state-of-the-art technologies used in cancer genomics. The "Future Directions" section highlights emerging model systems and techniques as well as the impact of rapidly changing technology on clinical trials. Important aspects of cancer genomics, including its role in altering how we as a society look at personal privacy in the context of medical treatment, economic disparities in cancer diagnosis, and treatment based on access to typically costly cutting-edge genomics, are also addressed. Ethical issues are discussed as they relate to cancer biology and genomics.
