【NEWS】Scientists discover breast cancer gene therapy

linxingxing

Scientists discover breast cancer gene therapy which could save 800 Scots women every year 2 C6 X  c3 |' C0 }+ k
Jul 14 2010 By Jack Mathieson
, G" [' s* a$ ~( O' `
0 g/ D) E9 j7 n+ f# P- T  m/ q6 R* xSCIENTISTS have identified a breast cancer treatment which could help 800 Scots women every year.
* g& ~, W6 T) S' m; k8 a# e) J* g7 _
The Edinburgh University team have pinpointed a gene's key role in spreading HER2 positive breast cancer to other parts of the body. It makes up a fifth of breast cancer cases.+ s8 |( C2 \2 T7 n4 c( h2 m

6 Q1 }* b; Z: B5 HResearchers were already working on drugs to block the gene - C35 - before the link was made." O) |/ D2 [- g
) C' j) o3 }( g7 g
The work by the uni's Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit is published today in the British Journal of Cancer.
. Q  Y" e. b+ H0 x  j2 \& n4 q7 G+ ^3 {+ M  m2 ^. o; `" z; p
Research leader Dr Elad Katz said: "With all cancers, the key is working out how they form and spread.7 K" H9 h1 e4 ]8 P( i: A& i1 A

1 F5 T+ e  i  U4 P"Identifying this gene's key role in the spread of this type of breast cancer is a significant finding. We are at an early stage but there is now a real possibility there could be a new treatment for women with HER2 positive breast cancer."
; h& @8 Q0 }& v- K) ?% Q4 e4 ]4 Z& G2 d3 S4 [% Y; r
The cancer can be treated with Herceptin but the drug does not help all patients and can stop working for others.
; c% W9 ^3 @, x, L, W/ D9 c' y3 e/ b( N( g7 o
Unit director Professor David Harrison said: "It is exciting to know there is a drug out there which could potentially save the lives of women with breast cancer.* F% x7 H0 k& C: B  J3 x
, f- v, u: A7 m  D
"We now need to do more work in the lab before we can start patient trials."