Treasure
trove of 110 genes linked to breast cancer discovered
Scientists have linked 110 genes to an increased
risk of breast cancer in the most comprehensive study ever to unpick the
genetics of the disease. Their study used a pioneering genetic technique to
analyse maps of DNA regions linked to an inherited risk of breast cancer and
identify the actual genes involved in raising a woman’s risk.
Researchers also linked 32 of the new genes to the
length of time women survived breast cancer – suggesting these could be
important in the development of the disease and potential targets for future
treatments. Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, looked in
detail at 63 areas of the genome that had previously been associated with the
risk of breast cancer by mapping studies. They were able to identify 110 new
genes that could potentially be causing an increased risk of breast cancer
across 33 of the regions they studied. In the remaining 30 areas, they were
unable to find any specific genes. One third of the target genes for which they
had patient data – 32 out of 97 – were also linked to survival in women with
oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, suggesting they play an important
role in the disease.
In
the future, testing for these genes could help pick out women who are most at
risk of developing the disease – or they could be explored as targets for new
drugs.
“Identifying
these new genes will help us to understand in much greater detail the genetics
of breast cancer risk. Ultimately, our study could pave the way for new genetic
tests to predict a woman’s risk, or new types of targeted treatment.”
No comments:
Post a Comment