【NEWS】Scientists discover breast cancer gene therapy

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Scientists discover breast cancer gene therapy which could save 800 Scots women every year 0 b4 e: r" E8 @+ z
Jul 14 2010 By Jack Mathieson
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SCIENTISTS have identified a breast cancer treatment which could help 800 Scots women every year.3 t. H5 h, J' ^& o: J* P+ ^
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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.
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Researchers were already working on drugs to block the gene - C35 - before the link was made.$ d7 k% G0 v3 ^+ r! R. ]

% C: e" }& {$ {9 z: C! e( SThe work by the uni's Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit is published today in the British Journal of Cancer.
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2 W( D& E8 [, |/ u# l, oResearch leader Dr Elad Katz said: "With all cancers, the key is working out how they form and spread.
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"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."
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- i5 |" k" ]/ O; e. QThe cancer can be treated with Herceptin but the drug does not help all patients and can stop working for others.
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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.# j( S4 D+ u# w6 p# n& T7 Q
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"We now need to do more work in the lab before we can start patient trials."