What is DNA benchmarking?
In the course of life, external agents such as stress, pollution, wrong diet have an impact on our body even going to modify our DNA.
These changes to DNA modify some genes rather than others, paving the way for heart and respiratory disease*.
One way to protect ourselves from these changes is represented by the preservation of DNA at birth that allows us to protect this enormous biological heritage. Fetal DNA is PURE in its original structure and without all the changes that will accumulate on it over time. PURE DNA represents an important starting point for comparative genetic analysis useful to understand the changes that our DNA has undergone during life.
Having a DNA sample taken at birth or in the first six months, through a salivary sample, allows to analyze the changes, discover the genetic history and therefore be able to act in a targeted way in case of need.
But what is DNA benchmarking? In the case of diseases, the pure DNA allows a comparative genetic analysis with the current state of the DNA – through the identification of the mutated sites in order to act accordingly in a targeted manner with a suitable therapeutic plan.
DNA is also used in “precision medicine” using information about a person’s genetic makeup to formulate patient-dependent therapies. In the near future, physicians will be able to regularly use genetic makeup information to choose drugs and their personalized doses for better therapeutic outcomes.
One of the most common cases concerns antibiotic resistance which, according to data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, could cause the death of 10 million people a year by 2050, thus making it a real urgent problem that requires global intervention.
“Investigations to identify the right drug are carried out, for example, on people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). – explains Dr. Stefania Fumarola, biologist and scientific director of In Scientia Fides- Before prescribing the antiviral drug abacavir (Ziagen), doctors regularly test HIV-infected patients for a genetic variant that leads a negative reaction to the drug. Another example is the breast cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) or even acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in these cases the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends genetic testing before administering the chemotherapy drug mercaptopurine (Purinethol).”
The FDA also advises doctors to test colon cancer patients for certain genetic variants before administering irinotecan (Camptosar), which is part of a combination chemotherapy regimen.
“Studies have found that the chemotherapy drugs, gefitinib (Iressa) and erlotinib (Tarceva), work much better in lung cancer patients whose tumors have some genetic change. Recently, researchers identified genetic variations that affect the response of depressed people to citalopram (Celexa), a widely used class of antidepressant drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Being able to analyze DNA and identify mutation allows enormous improvements in patient care through treatment plans adapted to each individual.”
Recently, drug developers used an approach that involved the screening of a chemicals compounds against a disease but now the researchers using genetic information to find or design drugs targeted at subgroups of patients with specific genetic profiles. The goal is to produce new drugs that are highly effective without side effects.
* Research conducted in Canada, at Ontario Institute for Cancer Research with Philip Awadalla and published on Nature Communications (Favé, MJ., Lamaze, F.C., Soave, D. et al. Gene-by-environment interactions in urban populations modulate risk phenotypes. Nat Commun 9, 827 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03202-2).
In Scientia Fides is a health facility (Biobank) that aims to guarantee biological insurance to anyone who wants to have over time, for themselves and their children, a therapeutic and diagnostic opportunity, immediately available through the autologous-dedicated conservation of adult stem cells with particular reference to those contained in cord blood.
It currently allows over 15,000 parents to guarantee for themselves and their children a therapeutic and diagnostic opportunity, immediately available in the oncology, immunological and regenerative fields, through the enhancement and use of the biological potential of stem cells, tissues and derived principles. A commitment that has led to 2 patents filed, numerous scientific publications and a constant collaboration with the Tissue Bank of San Camillo Forlanini in Rome, Galeazzi Hospital in Milan, San Raffaele Foundation, Galliera Hospital in Genoa, Coord Blood Bank in New York, Mayo clinic in Phoenix, IRIS in London and University of Padua.
Thanks to the FACTNetCord accreditation In Scientia Fides can release samples all over the world as they are connected with all transplant and diagnostic centers both in Italy and abroad.
FACTNetcord accreditation verifies and validates the operational excellence of the biobank confirming the safety of the processed product and therefore available for infusion if needed.
