It is increasingly common practice for researchers to scan DNA sequence data from tumor biopsies of cancer patients—the idea being that the presence of mutations might inform tailored treatments or prognoses. It is not common, however, to sequence these patients’ normal DNA, which, according the authors of a new study, is a serious omission. George Demetri, professor of medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Daniel Haber, Kurt J. Isselbacher/Peter D. Schwartz Professor of Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital, are mentioned.
