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| Science Forum Index » Medicine - Cancer Forum » Key cancer spread gene found... |
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| E. Nigma... |
 Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:39 pm |
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Scientists have pinpointed a gene linked to more than half of all
breast cancers.
The gene, NRG1 (neuregulin-1), is also thought to play a role in many
bowel, prostate, ovarian and bladder tumours.
The University of Cambridge team said the breakthrough should provide
"vital information" about how cancer spreads.
Experts agreed the finding, published in the journal Oncogene, could
represent a very significant advance in the fight against cancer.
“ I believe NRG1 could be the most important tumour suppresser gene
discovery in the last 20 years ”
Dr Paul Edwards University of Cambridge
The Cambridge team showed that the gene - which helps to suppress the
growth of cancer - is located on chromosome 8.
Cancerous cells are known often to miss part of that chromosome, and
when the researchers analysed breast cancer samples they found that
at least part of the key gene had often been lost.
Everybody is born with an intact NRG1 but it seems that in some cases
it can become damaged - leaving the way open for cancer to thrive.
Lead researcher Dr Paul Edwards said: "I believe NRG1 could be the
most important tumour suppresser gene discovery in the last 20 years
as it gives us vital information about a new mechanism that causes
breast cancer.
"We have got strong evidence that the gene is implicated in breast
cancer but we have no reason to think it's not the same for other
cancers, including prostate and colon cancer.
"Finding out what genes have been turned off in these cancers is
enormous help in understanding what has gone wrong with their
biology."
Arlene Wilkie, of the Breast Cancer Campaign, which part-funded the
study, said: "Knowing the identity of this gene will lead to far more
detailed studies of how it works and how it is involved in breast
cancer development.
"This research is a major step forward in understanding the genetics
of cancer and could open up a host of new strategies to improve
diagnosis and treatment."
Lesley Walker, of the charity Cancer Research UK, which also funded
the study, said more research was now needed to understand how the
gene was silenced, and how exactly it influences the development of
cancer.
She said: "It might then be possible to develop ways to bypass the
gene or target treatments to the defect."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8290507.stm
E.
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