First, let us examine the darkness. More tha 117 patients were enrolled in clinical trials at Duke University, conducted by Dr. Anil Potti. His work had offered the hope of using cDNA microarrays to individualize cancer treatments. Sadly, it has turned out that much of the work by Dr. Potti was falsified. After investigations by the Institute of Medicine, Potti\u2019s collaborator, Dr. Joseph Nevins was forced to take a closer look at the data. CBS News reported in a \u201c60 Minutes\u201d segment<\/a>:<\/p>\n Fearing that reality, Joseph Nevins, whose own reputation was at stake, reviewed the original data which had justified the clinical trials for 112 patients. Dr. Nevins discovered that when the underlying data disproved Dr. Potti\u2019s theory, the data were changed.<\/p>\n Nevins: \u201cIt became clear that there was no explanation other than there was a manipulation. A manipulation of the data, a manipulation of somebody\u2019s credentials and a manipulation of a lot of people\u2019s trust.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The bright spot in this story is the courage of a young man who stood up for the truth. In 2008 a medical student named Bradford Perez, who was doing research in Potti\u2019s lab exposed these misdeeds in a report that he presented to administrators at Duke University Medical School. He decided to take his name off all papers published by Potti, and repeat his research year at Duke in a different lab. His concerns apparently were initially covered up, and it took two additional years before the clinical trials were halted.<\/p>\n An outside reviewer had high praise for Perez:<\/p>\n \u201cThe medical student was very brave,\u201d said Arthur Caplan, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Langone Medical Center, who was asked to review the materials cited in this story. \u201cThat was quite an act of courage.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a feeling his lowly status made him someone that they would be able to hope would just go away,\u201d Caplan said. \u201cThere was a little bit of don\u2019t-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out.<\/p>\n \u201cPerez can look at himself in the mirror. Every day. But he paid the price.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n