Prof Brastianos presents the results of a study at an ECC 2015 press conference that has shown that unravelling the genetic sequences of cancer that has spread to the brain could offer unexpected targets for treatment.

The study involved taking 104 brain metastases samples matched to primary tumour and normal tissue biopsy specimens from the same patient and subjecting these to whole exome sequencing.

Genetic alterations in brain metastases that could affect treatment decisions in more than half of the patients studied were found.

These alterations were not seen in the primary tumour, suggesting that, when clinically possible, genetic characterization of even a single brain metastasis could be superior to that of a primary tumour.

Read the news story for more, or watch the interview