Cancer Progression Promoted by Junk DNA

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have found that at least one genetic malfunction in a sequence considered junk DNA promotes cancer growth.

The researchers, led by Dr Cristina Tufarelli, in the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health Sciences, discovered that the presence of this faulty genetic element - known as chimeric transcript LCT13 - is associated with the switching off of a known tumour suppressor gene (known as TFPI-2) whose expression is required to prevent cancer invasion and metastasis.