First few Article Sentences
For more than 100 years pathologists have been using microscopes to look at abnormal tissue and cells to better diagnose disease. Today, we are evolving beyond cellular examination to identify the root cause of these abnormalities within the genetic material of the cell itself. The mapping of the human genome has driven growth in molecular testing, which now allows laboratories to analyze tumor tissue and other specimens to determine likelihood of recurrence, source of disease and the best types of therapies to be used. Increased attention is being paid to “personalized medicine” which targets therapies to individual genetic signatures or profiles. These "targeted therapies" represent the most promising advance in cancer treatment yet. There has been a 30% increase in molecular testing in laboratories across the country in the last few years especially in women's health, infectious diseases, organ transplant testing and oncology and this growth is projected to continue.