This document discusses two studies on analyzing DNA variations to predict disease outcomes and develop new treatments. The first study found that a new biomarker called cMethDNA detected in blood samples could predict the survival of women with advanced breast cancer within 4 weeks of treatment. The second study identified DNA variations associated with inflammatory cytokines and found an existing drug may treat multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease. Both studies demonstrated how analyzing genetic variations could help customize treatment approaches for patients.

1. DNA:
VARIATIONS AND
PREDICTIONS
BY:
LAURA V. CARDONA
MEDICINE STUDENT
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

4. INTRODUCTION
-DNA is made of nucleic acids and its
structure was not known until the middle of
the XX century. This molecule is very
important because it contains genetic
information.
-Getting DNA, scientists can analize some
genes, it brings a lot information about
variations that are linked with some diseases.
-New treatments will be realized with having
in mind these studies.

5. “Blood test that detects
changes in tumor DNA
predicts survival of
women with advanced
breast cancer”
Johns Hopkins Medicine
(February 1th, 2017)

6. PREDICTIONS OF CHANGES IN
TUMOR DNA
• New DNA detector:
cMethDNA. It allows to
know the effectiveness of
the breast cancer
treatment just in 4 weeks.

7. PREDICTIONS OF CHANGES IN
TUMOR DNA
Scientists used the serum of blood samples of 141 women
with advanced breast cancer. They searched DNA
hypermethylation
Often it silences genes that keep runaway cell growth in
check, so the cancer can increase. Because of that, it’s a
good new biomarker.

8. PREDICTIONS OF CHANGES IN
TUMOR DNA
Acording to the level of DNA
hypermethylation,
researchers can evaluate
the life expectancy of the
patients with the current
treatment, it allows to
change it at time if it’s not
working, so it will conduce to
a cure.

9. PREDICTIONS OF CHANGES IN TUMOR
DNA: STUDENTS OBSERVATION.
I think that this new biomarker
“cMethDNA” is useful for
scientists and healthcare
professionals because it will
allows us to monitor the cancer
treatment and its evolution. It
means that with only four weeks
of treatment we will know if it’s
working and if it’s not, so we can
think in a new treatment based
in the needs of each patient.

10. “Genetic study uncovers
potential new treatments for
inflammatory diseases”
University of Turku
(February 1th, 2017)

11. NEW TREATMENTS FOR
INFLAMMAROTY DISEASES
Scientists have studied over ten million DNA variations,
14 different cytokines and growth factors and they found
that some inflammatory disseases are associated with
changes in the operation mode of these inflammatory
traces.

12. NEW TREATMENTS FOR
INFLAMMAROTY DISEASES
• With this study researchers also found that medicine
daclizumab, previously used for treating organ rejection
reactions, could possibly also be used in the treatment of
multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.

13. NEW TREATMENTS FOR
INFLAMMAROTY DISEASES
This discovery allows to think in new treatments for some
chronic and inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis,
Crohn's disease and coeliac disease. With this, we can
indentify DNA variations that are associated with
inflammation and can treat it, for example by “Genetic
therapy”.

14. NEW TREATMENTS FOR INFLAMMAROTY
DISEASES: STUDENTS OBSERVATION.
I think that this study will set a
precedent in the research of new
ways to treat several
inflammatory diseases having in
mind that it’s associated with
changes in cytokines and growth
factors that influence DNA
variations. It’s important because
with some methods we will study
those factors in the patient and
try to design the cure for the
diseases.

15. MEDICAL UTILITY

16. MEDICAL UTILITY
These two studies are trying to explain the relationship
between diseases and its cause. In both of them,
scientists found that are associated with DNA variations
and alterations, so according to that it’s useful because
we can indentify disease genes in the patient and we can
provide them an effective treatment.

17. MEDICAL UTILITY

18. MEDICAL UTILITY
Studying DNA, scientists can
found lots of alterations that are
associated with diseases. Now
we have high technology that
allows to observe DNA, because
of that is very important to take
advantage of these methods
and try to do a good medical
diagnostic, of course it also will
lead us to an effective treatment.

19. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2017, February 1th). Blood test
that detects changes in tumor DNA predicts survival of women
with advanced breast cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February
3rd 2017 from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170201113539.
htm
2. University of Turku. (2017,February 1th ). Genetic study
uncovers potential new treatments for inflammatory diseases.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 3rd 2017 from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170201092717.
htm
3. MARTINEZ SÁNCHEZ, Lina María. Biología molecular. 8va
ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. de Medicina, 2017. 91-100 p.