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Cancer Deaths Could be Reduced by Changes to Newly
Found Gene
New gene found
that is responsible for the spread of cancer
March 29, 2006 - Scientists at the University of
Liverpool have identified a new gene that causes the spread of cancer
and speculate that turning off the action of these genes could stop the
spread of the primary tumor, which would improve the chances of
survival. It is the secondary cancers that are the primary cause of
cancer deaths.
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Professor Philip Rudland, Dr Guozheng Wang and Dr
Roger Barraclough from the University's Cancer and Polio Research Fund
Laboratories have discovered an additional member of the S100 family of
protein genes S100P that causes the spread of cancerous cells from
an original tumor to other parts of the body.
If present in the primary tumor, metastagenes such
as S100P trigger the rapid spread of cancerous secondary tumors to other
tissues in the body via the bloodstream a process known as metastasis.
Although primary tumors can be removed surgically, secondary tumors are
more difficult to control. This research has been funded by the Cancer
and Polio Research Fund.
The new discovery builds on several years' work
carried out at the University to investigate the genes that cause
cancerous tumors to travel to other tissues in the body. To date, three
other metastasis-inducing genes have been discovered S100A4,
osteopontin, and more recently, AGR2.
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More Cancer News |
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Discovery Could Lead to
Cancer Prevention
Certain metabolites responsible for initiating breast and
prostate cancer
March 29, 2006 - Cancer
researchers have discovered that metabolites of natural
estrogens can react with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to cause
specific damage that initiates the series of events leading to
breast, prostate and other human cancers. This understanding of
a common mechanism of cancer initiation could result in cancer
prevention and in better assessment of cancer risk.
We have a novel
approach to cancer. We know the initiating step, said Dr.
Ercole Cavalieri of the Eppley Cancer Institute, University of
Nebraska Medical Center.
We think prevention of
cancer is a problem we can solve by eliminating this initiating
step. Estrogens can induce cancer when natural mechanisms of
protection do not work properly in our body, and the estrogen
quinones are able to react with DNA. In fact, if these
protections are insufficient, due to genetic, lifestyle or
environmental influences, then cancer can result.
Now that we have the
basic knowledge about a unifying mechanism of cancer initiation,
we have a greater sense of urgency to assess people at risk and,
at the same time, begin prevention by using specific natural
compounds.
The study describes how
the catechol estrogen quinones react with DNA to produce
specific mutations that may trigger breast, prostate and other
human cancers.
Weve known about
these catechol estrogen quinones for a long time, through many
different studies that weve done, but our most recent results
have been quite decisive, said Dr. Eleanor Rogan of the
University of Nebraska Medical Center. Its very big news. From
here, we will use the information to ultimately try to prevent
breast and prostate cancer.
The researchers will
present their findings at the 81st annual meeting of the
Southwestern and Rocky Mountain Division of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (SWARM-AAAS) on
Friday, April 7, at the University of Tulsa, in Tulsa, Okla.
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Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are often the only
options available to treat secondary tumors but these procedures can be
problematic to the patient as they can damage other healthy tissue and
do not always succeed in eradicating the cancer.
S100P is commonly found in ten different types of
normal tissue including the placenta, spleen, colon, ovary, prostate,
lung and heart. Scientists believe proteins like S100P function in
healthy tissue by increasing the movement of white blood cells around
the body. If the protein is found in a cancerous tumor however, it
causes the tumor to spread to other tissues.
Professor Rudland said: "It is the spread of cancer
from the initial tumor that is the key contributor to death of a cancer
patient. Metastagenes are fundamental to this process and can be found
in most common cancers, including breast, lung and colon. If these genes
are over-expressed in the cancerous tumor, early death of the patient is
much more likely.
"The next major step is to develop drugs that will
switch off the action of these genes. If we can do this, we can stop the
spread of the primary tumor and therefore improve the chances of
survival for patients.
"We are grateful for the support given by the
Cancer and Polio Research Fund."
The research is published in the current edition of
Cancer Research.
About source:
The University of Liverpool is one of the UK's
leading research institutions. It attracts collaborative and contract
research commissions from a wide range of national and international
organizations valued at more than £90 million annually.
The Cancer and Polio Research Fund is a charity
based on the Wirral that funds research nationwide into cancer and other
crippling diseases. In the 43 years of its existence, it has spent more
than £35 million on a wide range of medical research projects and the
provision of equipment and facilities. It is entirely dependent on
charitable donations for its income. For more information please contact
Roger Thornhill on 01948 667 729.
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