Cancer Suppressing Gene

A new gene has been revealed by Adelaide researchers to play an important role in suppressing lymphoma.  Lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts out in immune system cells when they are in a mode of uncontrollable growth and multiplication, which eventually leads to a tumor.  The gene discovered to supress lymphoma is the caspase-2 gene, which is related to a family of proteins that are essential for the self destruction of cells.  This gene was first discovered by Professor Sharad Kumar, and for the past twenty years his laboratory has been researching the processes by which cells committ suicide.  Cell death is vital in order to maintain the correct number of cells in the body and to delete cells that are potentially harmful.  Kumar states, "Cell death and survival are controlled by a large number of genes, and aberrations in these genes are often linked to diseases. For example, an inability for cells to evade apoptosis is a well-known hallmark of cancer".  The caspase-2 gene could actually prevent tumor formation by making cells predisposed to cancer maintain the right number of chromosomes.  Kumar adds, "This research not only provides new information on the development of cancer, it also defines how caspase-2 can potentially work as a tumour suppressor gene".  This article was very interesting to be because it has the possibility to lead to significant progress in cancer research and treatment.  Although research is still being done it is a nice shot in the arm towards treating this disease.

 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/269042.php

 

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Lymphoma.aspx