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How cancer genomics is transforming diagnosis and treatment

Genome sequencing is providing physicians with more data about the causes of cancer and changing the way some forms of the disease are treated.
  1. Bianca Nogrady

    1. Bianca Nogrady is a freelance science writer in Sydney, Australia.

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Illustration of rows of DNA sequence data

DNA sequencing allows oncologists to characterize tumours on the basis of genetic mutations. Credit: KTSDESIGN/SPL

When cancer was first described by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, he identified just two forms: the non-ulcer-forming carcinos and the ulcer-forming carcinoma. In the late nineteenth century, physicians found, with the help of the microscope, that cancer had multiple cellular forms.

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Nature 579, S10-S11 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00845-4

This article is part of Nature Outlook: Cancer diagnosis, an editorially independent supplement produced with the financial support of third parties. About this content.

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