The dirt in your backyard may hold the key to isolating cancerous tumors

University of Iowa researchers have found a gene in a soil-dwelling amoeba that functions similarly to the main tumor-fighting gene found in humans, called PTEN. When healthy, PTEN suppresses tumor growth in humans. But the gene is prone to mutate, allowing cancerous cells to multiply and form tumors. PTEN mutations are believed to be involved in 40 percent of breast cancer cases, up to 70 percent of prostate cancer cases, and nearly half of all leukemia cases, according to a review of the literature by the UI researchers. After some searching, the team found that an amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum has the gene ptenA, which mutates similarly to the human PTEN gene and causes behavioral defects in the cell. The researchers hypothesized that ramping up the presence of lpten, making it the star on the court, could overcompensate for the mutated ptenA. If their hypothesis holds accountable, it can lead to new ways to treat cancer. Read more here 
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Gene is found that could stop cancer in its tracks

Researchers from the University of Iowa have found a gene in amoeba that dwells in soil that could be found in your backyard that potentially has a similar function to a main tumor-fighting gene called PTEN that is found in humans.

PTEN is prone to mutation, but when the gene is healthy, it is able to suppress tumor growth in humans. However, when this gene is mutated, it allows cancerous cells to multiply and form tumors. This gene is believed to be involved in 40% of breast cancer cases, 70% of prostate cancer cases, and nearly half of all leukemia cases. PTEN is most generally the mutated gene involved in all cancers.  This mutation is not preventable, but researchers have been working to find another gene that may be able to substitute for the PTEN in humans.

The amoeba they found is called Dictyostelium discoideum, and it has a gene called ptenA that mutates like PTEN that also causes behavioral defects in the cell. Another close relative to ptenA that was found is, Ipten. This gene acts like ptenA as well.

 

Dictyostemlium discoideum

Researchers believe that if they are able to ramp up the presence of Ipten, it would overcompensate for the mutated ptenA gene. Once it was tested, they found that when the Ipten is over-expressed, it can fully overcompensate for all the defects that the ptenA mutant experiences.

If the same happens in human cells, researchers may be able to find a way to cure cancer. If they are able to find a drug that could activate the promoter of one of PTEN’s close relative genes, the patient could take the drug to over-express the related PTEN gene, and potentially stop cancer in its tracks.

Article: Treating cancer: Biologists find gene that could stop tumors in their tracks 

New discovery on treating cancer, it has the potential to halt cancer!

The researchers in the University of Iowa made a discovery that could be beneficial, in containing cancer and preventing it from spreading. The found an amoeba in soil that shares the same characteristics as PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog. This protein-coded gene is essential to fighting tumors.  According to David Sol, “If you look at tumors across the board- and that doesn’t mean just breast cancer pr prostate cancer- you find that PTEN is the most generally mutated gene. And when you mutate PTEN in mice, you cause tumors.” The PTEN genes can be found in a large Varity of cancer such as; breast and prostate cancer, that means it worth looking into if they all share a common linked to this gene. Although there is a drawback, the PTEN is only beneficial in a healthy state, if the gene were to mutate then it would cause more harm then good. If the PTEN were to mutate which is likely to occur, then the cancerous cells would spread more rapidly and accelerate the tumor process.

A normal PTEN gene (top) as compared to a mutated PTEN gene (bottom)    

I believe that this is remarkable work that is a large step forward to having cancer cells under control. By using our own body gene that is found in the Homo sapiens, to prevent cancer cell from spreading, and could possibly lead to the next step of being able to remove theses cells if possible. What more remarkable is the fact that these ameoba were always present and it was just only a matter of time until researchers would discover them, which lead you to think what else the human body can do that scientist are not aware of yet.   

Article:http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-cancer-biologists-gene-tumors-tracks.html

Related Articlehttp://www.futurity.org/cancer-amoeba-genes-782162/

Extra Gene in Mice Prevents Cancer

 



Science Daily presents an interesting insight to a gene Pten.  When there is an extra copy of this gene present in mice the mice display a loss of weight and no signs of cancer.  Brown fats that are hyperactive in mice also contribute to the weight loss because these fats burn energy instead of storing it.  It has been found that tumor suppressors have evolved through time into agents that aid in the protection of abnormalities in the human body.  When there is an extra copy of the the specific tumor suppressor Pten, that is commonly lost in human cancers, mice exhibit no signs of cancer.  This led, among many other studies, researchers to the conclusion that the Pten gene plays a huge role in the development of cancer.

The mice with an extra copy of the Pten gene also lived longer lives.  In addition to a longer and leaner life, the mice displayed organs that were much healthier.  For example, a mouse with an extra copy of the Pten gene had less fat in its liver and was less prone to insulin resistance.  Along with these findings researchers also found a small compound inhibitor that mimics the effects of Pten.  This inhibitor might possibly do for humans what the Pten did for the mice.

Information about the Pten gene and its effects gives great hope to the advancement for prevention of cancers.  Although much work needs to be done in this area it is a great start and hopefully improvements progress rapidly and successfully.  Finding a cure and/or a prevention for cancer is something that has been much anticipated and will be celebrated.