Scientists re-write rulebook on breast cancer in landmark global study

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKcKAtY-F_160jl0SvZUIo9mfdIWa4dDiZg-JN1Xs6NluPNQMkXqcSMKVMhUSO9LiZo64mE8V4t898tBWvLguT68sOh6Muk3PwIq8U-YiwqnpoHKD3UGM1QCc75mtq8n-0HikJDe_BNY/s1600/cancer+new+findings+cancer+endings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKcKAtY-F_160jl0SvZUIo9mfdIWa4dDiZg-JN1Xs6NluPNQMkXqcSMKVMhUSO9LiZo64mE8V4t898tBWvLguT68sOh6Muk3PwIq8U-YiwqnpoHKD3UGM1QCc75mtq8n-0HikJDe_BNY/s200/cancer+new+findings+cancer+endings.jpg" width="140" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Scientists at the BC Cancer Agency and University of British Columbia have identified new breast cancer genes that could change the way the disease is diagnosed and form the basis of next generation treatments.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Researchers have reclassified the disease into 10 completely new categories based on the genetic fingerprint of a tumour. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Many of these genes could offer much needed insight into breast cancer biology, allowing doctors to predict whether a tumour will respond to a particular treatment. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Whether the tumour is likely to spread to other parts of the body or if it is likely to return following treatment.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The study, published online today in the international journal Nature, is the largest global study of breast cancer tissue ever performed and the culmination of decades of research into the disease.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In the future, this information could be used by doctors to better tailor treatment to the individual patient.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The team at the BC Cancer Agency, in collaboration with Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute and Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology at University of Manitoba, analyzed the DNA and RNA of 2,000 tumour samples taken from women diagnosed with breast cancer between five and 10 years ago. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The sheer number of tumours mapped allowed researchers to spot new patterns in the data.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Study milestones include :</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Classified breast cancer into 10 subtypes grouped by common genetic features, which correlate with survival. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This new classification could change the way drugs are tailored to treat women with breast cancer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Discovered several completely new genes that had never before been linked to breast cancer. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> These genes that drive the disease are all targets for new drugs that may be developed. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This information will be available to scientists worldwide to boost drug discovery and development.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Revealed the relationship between these genes and known cell signaling pathways networks that control cell growth and division. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This could pinpoint how these gene faults cause cancer, by disrupting important cell processes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This is the second major breakthrough announced by BC Cancer Agency scientists in as many weeks. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The decoding of the genetic makeup of the most deadly of breast cancers is here, triple-negative breast cancer, which until then was defined by what it was missing, not what it was. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Similar to that announcement, today’s new discovery identifies genes that were previously unknown to be linked to breast cancer and makes it clear that breast cancer is an umbrella term for what really is a number of unique diseases.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> While the research is unlikely to benefit women who currently have breast cancer, it substantially advances how scientists approach further research and clinical trials by providing them with a springboard to develop new treatment options and drugs targeted to specific genes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The research was carried out in collaboration with the following institutes :</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> University of British Columbia, Vancouver</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Department of Genetics, The Institute for Cancer Research</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Oslo University Hospital</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Department of Histopathology, University of Nottingham</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> King’s College London, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The research was generously supported by the BC Cancer Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - BC/Yukon Region and Prairies/NWT Region, Michael Smith Foundation and Cancer Research UK.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The charity’s groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This work is funded entirely by the public. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.</div>

Scientists re-write rulebook on breast cancer in landmark global study

Scientists at the BC Cancer Agency and University of British Columbia have identified new breast cancer genes that could change the way ...

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