The quarry for this chase is collectively known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs. Commonly referred to as "snips," they are considered the most common alteration found in our hereditary makeup, far exceeding the better-known genetic miscue, the mutation.
Tracking down and isolating SNPs, some believe, is tantamount to locating a holy grail for the study of human disease. Unlocking their mysteries not only would help explain why some individuals are at greater risk for disease, but also what drugs might be tailored to each person for prevention and treatment of specific ailments, such as cancer.
"With SNPs, we are beginning to isolate key genetic differences among individuals, with the hope of applying that knowledge so we can develop new and more rational approaches to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer," said Timothy Rebbeck, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Dr. Rebbeck is program chair of "SNPs, Haplotype, and Cancer: Application in Molecular Epidemiology," sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), taking place September 13-17 in Key Biscayne, Fla. The meeting is bringing together an international group of scientists from a variety of disciplines to discuss the latest methods in the field as it relates to cancer.
"Since cancer is such a complex disease, based on numerous genetic and signaling miscues, these studies also may provide one of the best tools for understanding i
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Contact: Warren Froelich
froelich@aacr.org
215-440-9300
American Association for Cancer Research
12-Sep-2003