Does Age Affect Cancer Genomics?

Garrett Frampton, associate director of Cancer Genomics at Foundation Medicine, discusses recent research about genetic mutations that are more common in certain age groups.

In a study of more than 100,000 people, Frampton and his team found that younger patients (typically those in their 30s and 40s) tended to have germline alterations, while people who were in their 50s and 60s were more likely to have a much different genetic makeup.

Establishing the methodology for this kind of research is particularly important, Frampton says, as Foundation Medicine will continue to grow its database and take their research to the next steps, which may ultimately play a huge role in treatment decision-making for patients with cancer.