Genes may influence cancer growth: Study
November 11th, 2010 - 12:14 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Nov 11 (ANI): A study has indicated that the genes we possess not only determine the color of our eyes and hair and how our bodies grow, but they might also influence the changes that occur in tumors when we develop cancer.
A study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) suggests that our normal genetic background - the genetic variations that we inherit - contributes to the kinds of DNA changes that occur in tumor cells as cancer develops.
The researchers compared multiple independent tumors from people with a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) for losses and gains of DNA in tumor cells. They found that the pattern of these changes is quite similar in tumors from the same person but quite different in tumors from different individuals.
The findings may offer a new way to identify individuals at greater risk for developing cancer, the researchers say.
Leader Amanda Toland, assistant professor of medicine and a specialist in the genetics of cancer susceptibility at the OSUCCC - James and her collaborators analyzed 222 SCC tumors from 135 organ transplant recipients, who as a group are 65 to 250 times more likely to develop SCC than people in the general population. The researchers examined three or more separate tumors from 25 of these individuals.
They compared the genetic profiles of tumors from the same individual with those from other individuals for DNA copy number changes.
They found that the changes in SCCs from the same patient were statistically similar but significantly different when compared with other patients. They also found that in some cases a particular kind of genetic change is preferentially selected in tumors from the same individual.
“Overall,” Toland said, “our findings provide strong evidence that an individual’s genetic background plays a key role in driving the changes that occur in tumors during cancer development.”
The finding has been published in a recent issue of PLoS Genetics. (ANI)
- Virus linked to some cases of common skin cancer - Jul 31, 2009
- Gene linked to aggressive skin cancer identified - Sep 29, 2010
- Inflammation may provide breeding ground for cancer - Apr 20, 2011
- Eating strawberries may help prevent esophageal cancer - Apr 07, 2011
- Scientists stumble upon 'stop cancer' gene - Nov 16, 2011
- Mouse genome offers human cancer clue - Mar 24, 2011
- Vicious circle' may offer novel acute leukemia treatment target - Apr 14, 2010
- How dietary supplement could block cancer cells - Jun 30, 2010
- Key cause of chronic leukemia progression identified - Mar 05, 2010
- Genetic change helps lung tumors spread to other parts of the body - Apr 07, 2011
- Gene mutations help leukemia drug fight squamous cell lung cancer - Apr 04, 2011
- Brain tumour's 'grow-or-go' switch found - Mar 12, 2010
- Scientists crack genetic code for form of pancreatic cancer - Jan 21, 2011
- Study offers potential new targets for novel anti-HIV drugs - Mar 26, 2011
- 5 risk factors for late-stage head and neck cancer identified - Oct 29, 2010
Tags: cancer growth, cancer susceptibility, comprehensive cancer center, dna changes, dna copy, genetic background, genetic change, genetic profiles, genetic variations, james cancer hospital, number changes, ohio state university, organ transplant recipients, scc, sccs, skin cancer, solove, squamous cell carcinoma, toland, tumor cells