The use of common cancer drugs could be extended after the identification of a new genetic "fingerprint", researchers revealed last night.
The fingerprint, known as genomic signature 3, is linked to well-known mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes – but is found in patients who do not have these mutations, researchers said.
The latest study has identified that about 10% patients with gastric cancer have the signature 3 genes.
There may also be patients with cancers of the breast, ovary and pancreas who have the fingerprint in spite of not carrying the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, the researchers say.
It was found in 30% of ovarian, 27% of breast and 8% of pancreatic patients.
The researchers say these patients may benefit from platinum and PARP inhibitor drugs.
The findings come from a study, reported in Nature Communications, of the cancer genomes of more than 10,000 patients involving 36 different types of tumour.
Researcher Professor Michael Stratton, director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK, said: "This is an extremely exciting finding which shows the importance of genomic sequencing for personalised healthcare in the future.
"In years to come, routine genomic analysis of cancers could show which have the signature 3 fingerprint and inform and transform treatment of thousands of patients with these specific breast, ovarian, pancreatic and gastric cancers."
Fellow researcher Professor Suet Yi Leung, of the University of Hong Kong, China, said: "By focusing exclusively on those two genes, clinicians may be missing many cancer patients with the genomic signature 3 who could benefit from PARP inhibitor drugs or platinum therapy.
"Even just for breast cancer, you could potentially double the population size that could be treated with this therapy."
Alexandrov LB et al. A mutational signature in gastric cancer suggests therapeutic strategies. Nature Communications 30 October 2015; doi:10.1038/ncomms9683
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