Tumor Profiling

A tumor profiling test does not give genetic information about a person. Rather, it gives information about the genes in cancer cells.

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When a cancerous tumor is removed during a biopsy or surgery, the tissue is sent to a pathologist. A pathologist is a physician who studies this tissue under a microscope. If the pathologist determines the cells contain cancer, he/she also determines many characteristics about the cancer cells that guide treatment.

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​Researchers are now looking into how tumor characteristics at the genetic level may also help. Tumor profiling can look at thousands of genes in a tumor. Specific genes (or combinations of genes) may give information useful in making treatment decisions.

Melanoma

The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.

These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanomas often resemble moles; some develop from moles.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is treatment that uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight diseases such as cancer. This can be done in a couple of ways:

• Stimulating your own immune system to work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells

• Giving you immune system components, such as man-made immune system proteins

Some types of immunotherapy are also sometimes called biologic therapy or biotherapy.

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