Genome testing could help individualize treatments

By Jeff Hansel The Post-Bulletin, Austin MN

Speakers at Mayo Clinic'sIndividualizing Medicine conferenceoffered impressive examples of real-world genome-based treatment, and called for more research.

Michael Snyder, director for the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University, said Stanford researchers chose to study Snyder's own genome rather than recruit a test subject.

Speaking during this week's conference at Mayo Civic Center,Snyder said his entire genome has been sequenced. Whenever he gets a cold, he gets tested to see how the virus affects his genome and it does.

"Our health situation is really a product of our genome (a person's entire genetic makeup) as well as the food we eat, the various things we're exposed to in our environment," Snyder said.

Getting a full-genome sequence costs about $3,000 half the cost of buying a new hot tub, he said. That does not include $10,000 or so for scientists to make sense of results.

Still, genome-testing cost is decreasing rapidly and Snyder expects much of the population will soon be able to get a whole-genome analysis if desired.

Lots of ethical issues come up, such as how much of the information learned should be shared with the patient. If there's no cure for a disease and it's unclear how soon or if the patient will get it, should the patient be told he's at higher risk?

Mutations often do not affect a person's health directly, but some, such as combinations that increase the risk for Type 2 diabetes, might trigger disease when a person's body is exposed to disruption.

Stanford researchers, for example, demonstrated Snyder was at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. He thought that odd, since he's not overweight and exercised a little.

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Genome testing could help individualize treatments