Scientists mapping the mutated genome on two of the most deadly cancers – pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma brain cancer – have found several dozen gene-sequences responsible for the mutation, indicating that cancer is much more complex than originally thought.

Although we’ve come a long way since Nixon declared a war on cancer 35 years ago, no radical changes have so far been made in the treatment of cancer. Even though recently, specifically targeted anti-cancer drugs have been released, such as Herceptin for breast cancer, and Gleevec, which is used to treat a specific type of leukemia, we’re not long out of the trial-and-error method of discovering what toxic substances harm cancer specifically.

Oncologists at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center who wish to change that have discovered they are in for a monumental task while researching pancreatic and brain cancers. They’ve found in genetic analysis of 24 samples of pancreatic cancer that there are on average 63 genetic alterations, located in 12 cellular pathways, a more complex perspective than originally thought. "We used to think there was one enemy that was well-defined, but now we know there are lots of little enemies," as Victor Velculescu, researcher at Johns Hopkins puts it.

Given this new-found sophistication of the mutated gene-structure, it would be more efficient to isolate whole genetic pathways involved in the rampant growth rather than singular genes. This also suggests that current drugs such as the aforementioned Gleevec, which do just that – target a single gene – may be ineffective.

Even though they may be still far off, radically different methods in cancer treatment are on the horizon thanks to the researchers’ discovery. In their own words: "It's a new era in cancer research.”