On Monday, the National Center for Genome Resources announced the release of the first web-based software program that analyzes and sequences high volumes of DNA. The program, Alpheus, will enable scientists to obtain meaningful data from massive DNA-sequencing projects.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have already implemented the program to find the unique genetic make-up of tumors in cancer patients. There,
Alpheus was used to uncover the sequence of DNA in four mesothelioma patients. The results were astounding; the software detected 15 new genetic mutations and each tumor was found to have its own unique mutation profile.

The software expedites cancer analysis by examining massive amounts of DNA very rapidly. What does this mean for patients? The software presents the potential for highly refined treatment; understanding specific mutations can help doctors recommend therapies on an individual basis.

“One truly encouraging aspect of our findings is after spending a year and a half to develop the methodology and software for the pipeline, new tumors can be analyzed over the course of about a month," said David Sugarbaker, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at BWH, and lead author of the study on Alpheus. "Knowing which genes are mutated opens the door to better understanding and the discovery of more targeted and effective patient-specific treatments in real time."

Tomorrow, February 27, marks the third annual Action Mesothelioma Day in the United Kingdom. The British Lung Foundation established the day in 2006 to raise awareness of the fatal lung disease that claims the lives of 2,000 British citizens annually. Throughout the day, there are several local events scheduled, including balloon releases, informational displays, and advice clinics. For a complete list of local events, click here, or read more about one local balloon release.

Yesterday's issue of the New York Times included an article about addressing disease diagnosis in the workplace. When suffering from a serious illness, many patients are apprehensive about revealing their condition to coworkers and employers. The article discusses specific patients’ stories about when they informed coworkers of their diagnosis. In addition to presenting interesting viewpoints, the article mentions books about coping with serious illness in day-to-day life. The full article can be found here.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has published the latest edition of their bi-monthly newsletter. The newsletter is an excellent compilation of recent news stories, updated resources and accurate information regarding asbestos-related disease. Read the issue—the first of the year—here.

This issue of the newsletter includes an article about the bill being reviewed in Congress this week. Thursday, February 28, the U.S. House of Representatives will meet to discuss a bill to ban asbestos-use in America. The bill passed in the Senate by unanimous consent in October 2007 and will now be reviewed by the House's Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials. To become a law, the bill still requires a vote in the House of Representatives and the signature of the President. In addition to banning asbestos, the bill calls for extensive research on workplace safety and also awareness programs regarding environment and contamination. For a complete description of the bill, click here, or read the ADAO newsletter.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has established a grant program to help patients obtain treatment beyond their commutable region. The Mary and Bob Cosentino Travel Grant Program seeks to provide means for victims to consult experts that would be otherwise beyond their reach. Mary Cosentino served on MARF’s board of directors, and passed away last month after a five-year battle with mesothelioma. Though the disease typically causes death about a year after diagnosis, Mary’s life was prolonged because she was able to travel to distant experimental and clinical trial sites. The new Travel Grant Program hopes to give other mesothelioma patients the same sort of opportunity Mary was afforded. For more information, click here.