Beginning in 1990, the Human Genome Project broughtabout a significant breakthrough in medical genetics andapplication of genetic knowledge in common diseases. Ithas revolutionized the traditional medical concept thatgenetics is involved only in extremely rare inherited diseases,to the new concept that genetic factors significantlycontribute to the mechanism and progression of mostdiseases, as well as the response and side effects of thetreatment. [1] Cancer is the best example to demonstratethe benefits of genetic knowledge. It is universallyaccepted that cancer is a genetic disorder that results inabnormal cell growth and invasiveness with the potentialto spread to other parts of the body. Better understandingof cancer genetics leads to new types of cancer diagnostictests and several novel drugs which are designed to targetspecific genetic abnormalities in cancer. Many patientswho are suffering from various cancers, such as leukemia,breast cancer and lung cancer, are now having bettertreatment outcomes, longer life expectancy and sufferingless adverse effects from treatment with those targetedtherapies.
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