UK researchers have identified a type of genetic variation which allows bowel cancer patients to live on average three months longer than those without the variant. The findings suggest this genetic fault, seen in advanced bowel cancer patients, may impede the activity of a nearby gene - EIF3H - which has been previously linked to poor survival rates in other types of cancer.
Presenting the findings, Chris Smith, a Cancer Research Wales funded scientist at Cardiff University's Institute of Medical Genetics, said: 'This is the first genetic region identified through genome-wide association studies shown to influence both survival and response to treatment in patients with advanced bowel cancer'.
The study examined which of 22 genetic regions - already linked to bowel cancer - were carried among over 2,000 advanced bowel cancer patients involved in the clinical study. The data was compared with that from a similar number of people without the disease. One region was identified as influencing survival and response to treatment in the patient group, regardless of the type of treatment they had received.
'Understanding how these (genes) lead to cancer is the first and foremost important step in being able to develop more targeted treatments to an individual's genetic make-up', said Smith. 'Faster and cheaper genomic technologies are making it easier than ever before to pinpoint genes linked to bowel cancer risk'.
Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK said: 'This study shows that genome-wide association studies could be a powerful tool for understanding genes can influence cancer survival, as well as risk'. He added: 'Studies like this will help us spot the key genetic faults in a patient's tumour and tailor treatment accordingly'.
The findings were presented at the National Cancer Research Institute's conference in Liverpool.
Sources and References
-
Genes linked to bowel cancer treatment
-
Single gene target could boost bowel cancer survival by three months
-
Gene clue for cancer survival hopes
Related Articles
Genetic marker predicts colon cancer chemotherapy outcome
Scientists in the USA have identified a biomarker that could predict which patients with colon cancer might benefit from chemotherapy to prevent recurrences of the disease after surgical treatment....
Rare genetic mutations for bowel cancer discovered
Two rare genetic mutations have been linked to a higher risk of developing bowel cancer...
Scientists unpick actions of faulty gene behind red meat bowel cancer risk
A faulty gene linked to bowel cancer interacts with dietary iron to significantly increase the risk of developing the disease, research on mice suggests...
Aspirin cuts hereditary bowel cancer risk by 60 percent
Taking a daily aspirin has been recommended for people with a high risk of an inherited form of bowel cancer. Results published in The Lancet suggested the risk for those with Lynch syndrome could be cut by 63 percent...
Gene linked to the spread of cancer: Breakthrough or hype?
Scientists from the University of East Anglia have discovered a gene that appears to play an important role in the spread of cancer...
Two gene mutations linked to hardest-to-beat ovarian cancer
Two new genetic mutations associated with the aggressive cancer, ovarian clear cell carcinoma, have been identified by two independent studies. The mutations - in genes ARID1A and PPP2R1A - shed light on how clear cell tumours may arise and potentially provide potential new drug targets...
Genome maps could help predict risk of breast cancer
A group of international researchers have become the first to link the cumulative effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes responsible for the production of oestrogen, to a woman's risk of developing common breast and uterine cancers....
Genetic test to improve breast cancer treatment
Scientists have developed a way to identify six key genes which, if faulty, can prevent particular chemotherapy drugs from working in patients with breast cancer. The findings bring cancer therapy one step closer to the promise of targeted treatments for patients, based on the genetic characteristics of their tumours....
New test for hereditary bowel cancer
UK scientists have developed a new genetic test to identify bowel cancer patients who have an inherited form of the disease. The team, based at Edinburgh University, says that the test could also be used to detect people at high risk of developing the disease, before...
Personalised treatment for cancer?
A new DNA 'chip' could pave the way for breast cancer treatments tailored to individual patients, according to French biotechnology company Ipsogen. Alane Koki, the firm's scientific director, told delegates attending the fourth European Breast Cancer Conference in Hamburg that the breast cancer profile chip (BCPC) could be available this...
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.