Conexiant
Login
  • The Analytical Scientist
  • The Cannabis Scientist
  • The Medicine Maker
  • The Ophthalmologist
  • The Pathologist
  • The Traditional Scientist
The Pathologist
  • Explore Pathology

    Explore

    • Latest
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Opinion & Personal Narratives
    • Research & Innovations
    • Product Profiles

    Featured Topics

    • Molecular Pathology
    • Infectious Disease
    • Digital Pathology

    Issues

    • Latest Issue
    • Archive
  • Subspecialties
    • Oncology
    • Histology
    • Cytology
    • Hematology
    • Endocrinology
    • Neurology
    • Microbiology & Immunology
    • Forensics
    • Pathologists' Assistants
  • Training & Education

    Career Development

    • Professional Development
    • Career Pathways
    • Workforce Trends

    Educational Resources

    • Guidelines & Recommendations
    • App Notes

    Events

    • Webinars
    • Live Events
  • Events
    • Live Events
    • Webinars
  • Profiles & Community

    People & Profiles

    • Power List
    • Voices in the Community
    • Authors & Contributors
  • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
Subscribe
Subscribe

False

The Pathologist / Issues / 2022 / Oct / What’s New in Molecular Pathology?
Hematology Biochemistry and molecular biology Microscopy and imaging Hematology Oncology Molecular Pathology

What’s New in Molecular Pathology?

The latest research stories across the molecular landscape

By George Francis Lee 10/12/2022 News 3 min read

Share

Leveling Up Outcomes
 

A trial of more than 1,400 breast cancer patients has shown that genomic-led targeted therapies are able to improve outcomes for patients (1). Patients whose genomic alterations were classified as level I/II according to the ESMO Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets were given drug matches that led ultimately to improved outcomes. However, improvements did not occur for patients presenting beyond level I/II when using the same therapy selection process..

Genomic Deep Dive
 

Analysis of roughly 30,000 Crohn’s disease (CD) patients has spotlighted 10 associated genes. The research found numerous genes linked with CD onset and susceptibility, four of which lie within established CD loci. A single coding variant was significantly associated in nine of the genes; the 10th shows an increase in very rare coding variants (2).

Global Susceptibility 
 

A meta analysis of 61,047 lung cancer cases has revealed five new susceptibility loci across diverse populations via genome-wide association studies performed across continental populations (3). DNA damage assays suggested that some of the genes, including IRF4, have an influence by promoting endogenous DNA damage.

CAD You Believe It?
 

A genome-wide association study of close to 250,000 cases of coronary artery disease has revealed close to equal heritability across ancestral groups (4). In total, 95 novel loci were detected, eight of which were significant in Black and Hispanic groups. Moreover, the team found 15 loci across populations that overlap with established loci for clinical coronary artery disease.

The Cancer Detector
 

A novel assay is able to create comprehensive profiles of the epigenetics of plasma-isolated nucleosomes, DNA methylation, and cancer-specific biomarkers with high accuracy, a new study has shown (5). The system detects six active and repressive histone modifications at high-resolution and offers insight into their ratios and combinatorial patterns via single-molecule imaging.

A Long Read
 

A large dataset of human long-read RNA sequences has been built from a collection of 88 samples from Genotype-Tissue Expression tissues, allowing a team to identify over 70,000 novel transcripts for annotated genes, validating protein expression for 10 percent of them (6). The work provides new insights into specific transcript alterations caused by common and rare genetic variants.

In the right circles
 

The CHRONOS clinical trial has shown that genotyping tumor DNA in blood can help inform metastatic colorectal cancer patient care (7), supporting circulating tumor DNA as a valid strategy to help determine treatment efficacy.

Hey, St. Jude
 

A tool created by scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can find safe locations to slot genes into human DNA, potentially offering an opportunity to improve the safety and efficacy of cell and gene therapies (8).

Myocardial map
 

A new high-resolution map of human cardiac models after myocardial infarction identifies disease-specific cardiac cell states (9). The data are publicly available for future studies (10).

Genetic jeopardy
 

Information based on over 735,000 individuals indicates that rare genetic variants have a significant effect on disability-adjusted life years (11). Some common variants’ effects on risk are similar to that of high sodium intake and low exercise.

Newsletters

Receive the latest pathology news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.

Newsletter Signup Image

References

  1. F Andre et al., Nature, [Online ahead of print] (2022). PMID: 36071165.
  2. A Sazonovs et al., Nat Genet, 54, 1275 (2022). PMID: 36038634.
  3. J Byun et al., Nat Genet, 54, 1167 (2022). PMID: 35915169.
  4. C Tcheandjieu et al., Nat Med, 28, 1679 (2022). PMID: 35915156.
  5. V Fedyuk et al., Nat Biotechnol, [Online ahead of print] (2022). PMID: 36076083.
  6. DA Glinos et al., Nature, 608, 353 (2022). PMID: 35922509.
  7. A Sartore-Bianchi et al., Nat Med, 28, 1612 (2022). PMID: 35915157.
  8. D Shrestha et al., Genome Biol, 23, 199 (2022). PMID: 36131352.
  9. Genomics and Epigenetic Guided Safe Harbor mapper (2022). Available at: https://bit.ly/3ElWsTD.
  10. C Kuppe et al., Nature, 608, 766 (2022). PMID: 35948637.
  11. S Jukarainen et al., Nat Med, 28, 1893 (2022). PMID: 36097220.

About the Author(s)

George Francis Lee

Interested in how disease interacts with our world. Writing stories covering subjects like politics, society, and climate change.

More Articles by George Francis Lee

Explore More in Pathology

Dive deeper into the world of pathology. Explore the latest articles, case studies, expert insights, and groundbreaking research.

False

Advertisement

Recommended

False

Related Content

Turning Tides
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Turning Tides

January 9, 2024

3 min read

A new study shows evidence for sustained human-to-human transmission of mpox since 2016

Molecular Spectacular
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Molecular Spectacular

January 8, 2024

1 min read

A look at last year’s most interesting molecular pathology stories

qPCR Infectious Disease Detective
Biochemistry and molecular biology
qPCR: Infectious Disease Detective

January 4, 2024

3 min read

How quantitative polymerase chain reaction really hits the mark in epidemic control and ID detection

Case of the Month
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Case of the Month

January 11, 2022

1 min read

False

The Pathologist
Subscribe

About

  • About Us
  • Work at Conexiant Europe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 Texere Publishing Limited (trading as Conexiant), with registered number 08113419 whose registered office is at Booths No. 1, Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, England, WA16 8GS.