login
Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Novel Tumour Suppressor for Lung Cancer Identified
Proto-oncogenes are genes that play a role in normal cell growth (turnover of cells and tissue) but, when genetically modified, can cause the out-of-control cell division that leads to cancer.
Previous research had established that Ras, a proto-oncogene, is abnormally expressed in up to 25 percent of human lung cancers; but, researchers did not understand the specific cellular events by which abnormal Ras expression leads to transformation.
The research team, led by Jorge Moscat, sought to define the interim steps that occur in Ras-induced tumour development to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms leading to cancer.
"These interim steps are critical because they help us determine how best to intervene and stop cancer growth along the way. Right now, cancer therapy is delivered with a sledgehammer and it needs to be more like a scalpel so we avoid unnecessary harm to the body," said Moscat, co-author of the study and chair of UC's cancer and cell biology department.
Using a genetically modified mouse model, the researchers found that animals that didn't express a certain gene (protein kinase C (PKC)-zeta) developed more Ras-induced lung cancer, suggesting a new role for the gene as a tumour suppressor.
"PKC-zeta would normally slow down Ras transformation and put the brakes on tumour development, but when PKC-zeta is missing or inactive as a result of genetic alterations, tumour growth actually accelerates," said Moscat.
|
|
|
More News on: Lung Cancer, Malignant Mesothelioma, Cancer and Homeopathy, Smoking Risk, Cysts and Tumours, Cancer Facts, Asbestosis , Cancer, Tattoos A Body Art, Tumor Markers For Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis
 Comment & Contribute
|
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
 | Quiz on Cancer Looking for information on cancer? Go through medindia's Cancer quiz. 
|
- News Quick Links
 |
Cancer
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Cardio-Pulmonary Function can be a Strong Indicator for Survival Chances of Breast Cancer Patients |
| » | Post Surgery Will the Tumour Return? New Breast Cancer Test to Predict Exactly |
| » | Scientists Develop Compound That Triggers Cancer Cell Death |
| » | Iraqi National Hopes to Find Affordable Treatment for His Cancer in India |
| » | New Technique can Help Doctors Detect Pancreatic Cancer |
| More Cancer News | |
|
