DNA technology has potential to revolutionize medical treatments

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - New technology is giving a world champion Minnesota hockey player a new outlook on her path to recovery from Stage 4 lung and brain cancer by using her DNA to tailor the drugs regimen she's given, limiting side effects while maximizing effectiveness.

With a simple mouthswab, Rachel Drazan-Malmberg was able to get a full analysis of her DNA and a specially designed battery of medication that cut down the extreme side effects that plagued her throughout recovery, allowing the former Gopher star to rejoin her family and live a much more normal life.

"My side effects from the cancer therapy were so severe that I wasn't even able to live daily life," she said. "I was able to go from taking all these side effect medications--nine of them a day and tracking them in a notebook every hour--to just taking my cancer medication [alone]. I feel very little side effects."

The high-tech tools are designed by OneOme, a subsidiary of Mayo Clinic located in northeast Minneapolis. The company can take a mouthswab, like Drazan-Malmberg's, and within three days increase a patient's chance at success significantly. 

"It changed my outlook," said Drazan-Malmberg. "It gave me the belief that I could live a normal life, treat my cancer and beat it." 

For more information about OneOme, visit their website.