Genetic link found between brain, skin and bone cancer
American researchers have identified a genetic link between three different types of tissue cancer.
They have found 20 percent of all skin, bone and brain cancers share a defective version of a gene known as STAG2.
It is now hoped the new findings will be used to develop new treatments for all three strains of the disease.
READ MORE FROM THE WDM CONTENT NETWORK:
To read the latest edition of Healthcare Global, click here
- Insecticide bed nets linked to malaria increase
- New technology enables keyhole surgery to ‘feel’
- Synthetically engineered bacteria destroys superbugs
The researchers, from the Georgetown University School of Medicine, conducted the study initially to find a mutated gene in common forms of brain cancer.
They are now going to conduct further studies to see if the gene is present in other forms of cancer.
“In the cancers we studied, mutations in STAG2 appear to be a first step in the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell," said Todd Waldman from the university.
“We are now looking at whether STAG2 might be mutated in breast, colon, lung, and other common human cancers.”
Meanwhile, David Soloman, a student involved in the study, added: “We are now attempting to identify a drug that specifically kills cancer cells with STAG2 mutations.”
“Such a drug would be of clinical benefit to the many patients whose tumors have inactivation of STAG2.”
Our magazine is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
- Hologic: How Can Technology be Harnessed to Combat Cancer?Technology & AI
- Asian cancer survivors break stigma in their communitiesSustainability
- Novartis breast cancer drug trial achieves positive resultsMedical Devices & Pharma
- Avenda Health’s Brit Berry-Pusey uses AI for prostate cancerTechnology & AI
