4 Topic Commentaries

Genetic Testing in Retinoblastoma: New Applications

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  Debarshi Mustafi, MD, PhD

  Ophthalmology; Pediatric Retina/Retina Genetics

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  University of Washington School of Medicine

  “Depending on which copy you have, that could reflect the cancer’s severity and its likely response to chemotherapy,”

  Source
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  Jesse L. Berry, MD

  Ophthalmology; Ocular Oncology

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  USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

  “In fact, we found measurable amounts of tumor DNA — genetic information from the tumor that had previously been completely unavailable from an intact eye.”

  Source
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  James Hicks, PhD

  Cancer Genomics; Molecular Biology

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  USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience; USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

  “These findings provide proof of principle that the aqueous humor can be used for a surrogate ‘liquid’ tumor biopsy,”

  Source
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  Thomas C. Lee, MD

  Ophthalmology; Pediatric Ophthalmology/Ocular Oncology

  •

  USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

  “Until now, we could only do genetic analysis — and base therapy on the specific pathologic tumor features — when there was no longer a possibility of saving the eye,”

  Source