【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
9 y" K, l3 S2 cJul 14 2010 By Jack Mathieson ! `' e- ~2 F0 v) F9 m

0 }. j, s0 ^4 w: o. q2 uSCIENTISTS have identified a breast cancer treatment which could help 800 Scots women every year." j2 X% T9 G- m) ]

- r6 A3 b5 M8 ?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.
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' k" r, z+ C- @8 ?7 CThe work by the uni's Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit is published today in the British Journal of Cancer.
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Research leader Dr Elad Katz said: "With all cancers, the key is working out how they form and spread.
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. l; \9 K2 H4 _' F4 |6 A  n5 A7 y4 E. U"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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The 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./ [' V. F  `/ r, w& A9 _

0 d( J8 l( \1 G( F1 N( I% ["We now need to do more work in the lab before we can start patient trials."