SNPs: blood and tissue - (May/25/2008 )

Hi,

Why are SNPs (form cancer patients) studied in both blood serum and cancer tissues ? Why not just either?

Thanks
SF

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Disclaimer: Me No Expert.

1. SNPs can not be studied from blood serum, it requires blood cells and genomic DNA thereof

2. But I think I know what you mean, Blood. In most non-hematologic malignancies, blood cells will give you patient's background SNP picture. Cancer tissue may be heterogenous, and may have developed SNPs of its own.

3. Be careful bout blood. If the patient had gone through a recent transfusion at teh time of blood collection, she may end up with my SNPs.

4. So, essentially, it is good to check from two tissues to make sure that the SNPs you are looking for belong to patients, and not somebody elses or that of cancer cells.

5. I would even think of getting Cheek cells scraping, just in case..

Check with expert before propagating my views though

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