A genetic switch is a chemical mark that turn genes on or off. Researchers from the University of Wolverhampton discovered several genes with defective switches that are linked to breast cancer's spread to the brain. The researchers conducted their study by examining twenty-four breast cancers that had spread to the brain and samples from the original breast tumor. By comparing DNA methylation of the original breast cancer and the later developed brain tumor, the researchers narrowed down the 120 potential chemical switch candidates and dub a "signature" for the cancers that had spread.
The researchers were also able to find an early warning signal for tumors that may spread to the brain. Two genetic switches were found to be defective in the early development of the original breast cancer and these chemical marks are allowing scientist to develop a blood test that may detect these warnings before the disease spreads.
Dr. Mark Morris, author of the study and reader in Molecular Oncology at University of Wolverhampton, says "Each year the number of women whose breast cancer spreads to the brain is increasing. While we know many of the genetic changes behind breast cancer, we know very little about why the disease can spread to the brain. By identifying the genes that are switched off or on in breast cancer before they spread to the brain, we hope to be able to develop a blood test to spot this change.There's also potential for our findings to be used a starting point to develop treatmnets that might prevent the spread."
In the UK, 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer a year, while 11,600 die from the disease. Up to 30% of breast cancer will spread to the brain, often after the first tumor was already treated. Most women only survive up to seven months after the brain metastases has been diagnosed.
I think what these researchers are doing is interesting. This is a very unique way of attempting to solve the problem of breast cancer spreading to the brain. Before this article, I did not even though that brain cancer in the brain was common. I believe the genetic switches of many different types of cancer should be studied, especially the more common ones. Genes seem to be very important in the development and spread of cancer. Finding unique ways to analyze cancerous genes will one day lead us to answers of the mysteries of cancer.
Related Article: http://www.itv.com/news/central/2014-11-05/bbb/
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