Turning Off 4 Genes Stops Breast Cancer Spreading
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Significant news regarding breast cancer is being reported today. Scientist believe that they have found four links between human genes and the reason breast cancer spreads.
This study could have a large impact on the treatment of breast cancer and the survival rates of sufferers. 
In the research the four suspected genes were 'turned off' during studies of breast cancer with mice. The findings were startling. Researchers saw that by switching the breast cancer spreading genes off, the breast cancer tumour had a huge decrease in its ability to spread. When breast cancer is spreading it is called metastasis, this is when the cancer cells break away from the main tumour, enter the bloodstream and infect another part of the body. When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body is when it becomes the most life threatening and difficult to treat. The process of metastasis is the leading cause of death, 90%, from cancer.
Researchers in the US carried out the study. The results are so positive that they now want to head straight into clinical trials with particular drugs. The drugs they are interested in are already known to zero in on two of the four suspect genes.
The researchers found that when proteins produced by the genes combine the cancer cells are able to break free of the main tumour and spread to other parts of the body. When scientists turned these genes off at the same time tumour was prevented from growing any larger and cells were unable to spread.
Scientists also injected mice with cancer cells where the four specific genes had been switched off. When observing these cells in the mice researchers saw that it was not possible for the cancer cells to enter the tissue of the lungs.
Prior to turning all four genes of simultaneously the researchers attempted to turn of one gene individually in order to observe the effects. This method did not have a significant effect on the breast cancer.
This study could have a large impact on the treatment of breast cancer and the survival rates of sufferers.
Turning Off 4 Genes Stops Breast Cancer Spreading
In the research the four suspected genes were 'turned off' during studies of breast cancer with mice. The findings were startling. Researchers saw that by switching the breast cancer spreading genes off, the breast cancer tumour had a huge decrease in its ability to spread. When breast cancer is spreading it is called metastasis, this is when the cancer cells break away from the main tumour, enter the bloodstream and infect another part of the body. When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body is when it becomes the most life threatening and difficult to treat. The process of metastasis is the leading cause of death, 90%, from cancer.
Researchers in the US carried out the study. The results are so positive that they now want to head straight into clinical trials with particular drugs. The drugs they are interested in are already known to zero in on two of the four suspect genes.
The researchers found that when proteins produced by the genes combine the cancer cells are able to break free of the main tumour and spread to other parts of the body. When scientists turned these genes off at the same time tumour was prevented from growing any larger and cells were unable to spread.
Scientists also injected mice with cancer cells where the four specific genes had been switched off. When observing these cells in the mice researchers saw that it was not possible for the cancer cells to enter the tissue of the lungs.
Prior to turning all four genes of simultaneously the researchers attempted to turn of one gene individually in order to observe the effects. This method did not have a significant effect on the breast cancer.