Cancer Genes More Abundant Than Thought

Some Gene Mutations May Increase Cancer Risk More Than Others, Study Shows

(WebMD)  Cancer genes may be more abundant than scientists previously thought.
So say cancer gene specialists including P. Andrew Futreal, Ph.D., co-leader of the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, England.

Futreal's team is researching the connection between genes and cancer. They're combing through human DNA to look for genetic patterns associated with cancer.

As part of those efforts, Futreal and colleagues screened the DNA from 210 human cancers and from healthy human tissue. They focused on 518 genes that
make a type of protein that has been linked to various cancers.

The DNA tests had widely varying results. Of the 210 cancers, 73 had no
mutations in the studied genes, while others had "exceptionally large"
numbers of mutations, the researchers write in Nature.

Drivers and Passengers

All in all, the scientists spotted more than 1,000 gene mutations in the
cancers' DNA.

Most of those mutations apparently don't affect cancer development. The
researchers call those mutations "passenger mutations."

However, the scientists also spotted an estimated 158 "driver
mutations" that appeared to increase cancer risk. Of the 518 genes studied,
nearly 120 had driver mutations, the study shows.

"It turns out that most mutations in cancers are passengers," Futreal says in a Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute news release.

"However, buried amongst them are much larger numbers of driver mutations than was previously anticipated," he continues. "This suggests that many more genes contribute to cancer development than was thought."

The study doesn't show that those gene mutations were the sole cause of
cancer. A mix of genetic and environmental factors is thought to affect cancer risk.

[talkingham]

Yeah, look how long it took to get trans fat on the radar - docs didn't care about - a few researchers at U of Maryland had tried to point out the problems with trans fats since the early 80's but it was near the end fo the 90's before anyoen would listen. Between corporate control fo the food and health industry very little gets done that won't amke a bunch of money. They are interested in cures from natural substances because they can't patent them.

[Syndicate]

debwilli: Its probably related. Cancer is just a malfunctioning cell. If you have a gene that can mutate to create cancer. then that gene could mutate in one persons liver and in anothers brain. Be careful taking Medical advice. Drs. don't know as much as they think they do.

[debwilli]

Why can several members from one family be afflicted by different forms of cancer and it not be considered related?