Scientists Discover Gene That Could Unlock New Treatments For Cancer

DALLAS, TX (CBS) -- Biologists in Texas have identified a gene that could unlock new treatments for cancer.

The gene called "NORAD" is responsible for maintaining the proper amount of chromosomes in cells.

Researchers say when the gene is inactive, chromosomes can become unstable, which is a key feature found in cancer cells.

"In the absence of the NORAD RNA, the number of chromosomes in cells becomes highly abnormal," says Joshua Mendell, M.D., Ph.D., professor of molecular biology at UT Southwestern and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

"This is an entirely new function for a noncoding RNA and may have implications in cancer biology since genomic instability is a hallmark of tumor cells."

In:
• Cancer