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04
May 2016
Breast cancer breakthrough – Scientists uncover ‘milestone’ genetic find
Scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute say that they have a near-perfect picture of the genetic events that cause the disease.
The researchers have said that the study marks a ‘very significant moment for cancer research’ and opens the door to new and better treatments, and ways of preventing the disease ever occurring.
Breast cancer is still one of Britain’s biggest killers, with 1,000 women a month dying from the disease, and 54,000 new cases a year.
In order to get to root of the causes, it is necessary to understand what goes wrong in a person’s DNA that turns healthy tissue cancerous.
The research team looked at the DNA of breast tissue samples from 560 patients around the world. 93 genes were uncovered that can cause tumours if mutated and it is hoped that each of these errors could be exploited by new drugs.
Professor Sir Mike Stratton, director of the Institute, said “In the latter part of the last century, we were able to identify the first individual genes that became mutated.
“Now, with our ability to sequence the whole genome of very large numbers of cancers, we’re essentially moving to a more or less complete list of these mutated cancer genes, so it’s a very significant moment for cancer research.”
Cancer Research UK’s Dr Emma Smith, said “This study brings us closer to getting a complete picture of the genetic changes at the heart of breast cancer and throws up intriguing clues about the key biological processes that go wrong in cells and drive the disease.
“Understanding these underlying processes has already led to more effective treatments for patients, so genetic studies on this scale could be an important stepping stone towards developing new drugs and boosting the number of people who survive cancer.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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