The
idea of grid-computing is a broad collaboration of computer systems that are
non-interactive. The non-interactive
systems involve large numbers of files which are collected as a resource to
reach a common goal, such as trying to find a cure for a disease. There are
different types of grids that are used being a single grid or clustered. Many of the single grids are used for
operating systems that retain information specific to a certain place, such as
a library software. There are many
applications for grid-computing to solve Grand Challenge problems which
include: protein folding, finance modeling, different simulations, and
weather/climate modeling. Universities
use existing computers to handle their own long-running computation tasks which
are considered as a form of distributed computing. The volunteer computing has different ways
such as: the resources can be trusted; which would assume that a PC does not
return results that are intentionally wrong and will not falsify, therefore
there is no need for replication. Also, there is no need for screensaver
graphics, usually it is desirable to have a computation be completely invisible
and out of the control of the user of the PC and then the deployment of the
information is automated. The grand
vision is often presented as an analogy to power grids where users (or
electrical appliances) get access to electricity through wall sockets with no
care or consideration for where or how the electricity is actually generated.
In this view of grid computing, computing becomes pervasive and individual
users (or client applications) gain access to computing resources (processors,
storage, data, applications, and so on) as needed with little or no knowledge
of where those resources are located or what the underlying technologies,
hardware, operating system, and so on are.
For an
understanding of the project, an introduction of Mapping Cancer Markers is important.
First, Tumor markers, also known as biomarkers, are found in a higher amount in
blood, urine, or even some individuals with cancer. Tumor markers help physicians indicate cancer and
the corresponding treatment. The markers
are mostly used to screen high-risk individuals because it helps to find cancer
in healthy or high-risk individuals before symptoms are developed. The tumor markers can help physicians to
predict cancer behavior and respond, to heighten the patient’s chance of
recovery. The recovery consists of a treatment plan, which tumor markers help
to decide if chemotherapy or immunotherapy should be used after surgery or
radiation therapy. There are other tumor
markers that help a physician choose a prescription regimen for each individual
patient. The markers will also allow physicians
and their patients to monitor for a reoccurrence, which is significant for some
patients due to a change within the count of tumor markers, which provides detection
sooner.
There
are limitations of tumor markers. Physicians usually need other tests done,
like a biopsy, to determine if there is a presence of a particular tumor marker
is a cause for concern. Tumor markers can have an elevated level which may be
caused by a condition or disease other than cancer, some individuals have tumor
markers levels that may be higher than usual that do not have cancer. There is variation in tumor markers over time
which causes inconsistent results and the level of tumor marker may not rise
until after the progression of the cancer which does not help in early
detection.
The
tumor markers are tested via a blood or urine which is sent for analysis. The
biopsy sample, is an example of a surgical specimen can also be used to find
tumor markers. The tests have to have two requirements: specificity and sensitivity. Specificity is important because if the test
is not specific enough there could be a false positive which would mean an
individual would have unnecessary tests and anxiety. Sensitivity is important
as well, because it could suggest that a tumor is there or not all and would
cause a false positive because the individual would not be responding to a
treatment.
Grid computing will help scientist screen to identify grouping of markers in the body to detect cancer which in the long run will help make cancer curable. The project will screen data extracted from tissue and blood samples from thousands of individuals or patients and will help to identify the characteristic chemical markers that are associated with certain types of cancers or tumor markers. This will also eventually help to determine the risk of developing certain cancers or tumors and will allow for a better treatment that is effective for a specific individual or patient.
Grid computing will help scientist screen to identify grouping of markers in the body to detect cancer which in the long run will help make cancer curable. The project will screen data extracted from tissue and blood samples from thousands of individuals or patients and will help to identify the characteristic chemical markers that are associated with certain types of cancers or tumor markers. This will also eventually help to determine the risk of developing certain cancers or tumors and will allow for a better treatment that is effective for a specific individual or patient.
There
are specific tumor markers in cancer and they can be found on the following
website. http://www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/cancernet-feature-articles/treatments-tests-and-procedures/understanding-tumor-markers
