Decode genetic map of two deadly forms of cancer
posted in Cancer |This brain cancer and pancreatic cancer. This study tumor is the most comprehensive assessment to date
Scientists have completed a genetic map of a type of brain cancer and other pancreatic cancer, both considered among the deadliest of the disease.
In studies published in the journal Science, scientists at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University indicate that the genetic map is the most complete tumor study has been conducted to date.
In this new map, scientists evaluated mutations in virtually the more than 20,000 genes from 24 pancreatic and 22 brain cancers.
In most tumors studied were discovered alterations in regulatory processes, and these changes corresponded to about a dozen of each type of tumor.
In pancreatic cancer, the alterations included the control system of DNA damage, cell maturation and tumor invasion for between 67 percent and one percent of the tumors, the scientists said.
This changes the concept on solid tumors and their management, because drugs or other agents that target the physiologic effects of these processes, said Bert Vogelstein, co-director of the Ludwig Center of John Hopkins and investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Center.
He added that these drugs, rather than the individual components of the genetic components are probably the most useful approach for developing new therapies.
In addition to the processes, in both studies were identified mutated genes, including 83 oncogenes in pancreatic cancer and 42 in the most lethal form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme.
Also found significantly overexposure of 70 genes in cancer proteins that are on the cell surface or are secreted which makes them a target for diagnostic potential.
According to Kenneth Kinzler, professor of oncology and co-director of the Ludwig Center, the study highlight the difficulties in studying the disease.
“The landscape of human cancers is clearly much more complex than previously thought,” he said.
“Fighting it is going to be a guerrilla war than a conventional conflict because there are dozens of mutated genes in each of the tumors,” he added.
Kinzler said he considered individually these mutations do not appear to be a major obstacle.
“However, when operating together, become an enemy that will require us to develop new strategies to combat them,” said the scientist.
He added that ultimately, the best long-term strategy “will be the early detection of tumors, when the number of guerrillas is still small and yet they can control”