1 gene mutation can cause many cancers

A research result shows that an important gene that normally protects the human body from cancers can become a cause of many different cancers depending on how high the gene is broken. How to turn.

The study was conducted by scientists at Ohio University and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in partnership with Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital of the United States.

Scientists examined mutations in genes called PTEN. People with a copy of this gene variant have Cowden syndrome - a condition that poses a high risk of developing cancer in organs such as the breast, thyroid, and ovaries.

In addition, the PTEN gene is frequently mutated in normal human body cells, leading to lung, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

Associate Professor Gustavo Leone, a scientist specializing in molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics, and director of the study, said: "We see the gene mutations ourselves. has an important role in causing cancers to occur in certain organs in people with Cowden syndrome. "

In the study, Mr. Leone and his colleagues developed three strains of identical gene mice, each of which had one of three PTEN gene mutations found in people with Cowden syndrome.

Each of these mice has a different version of the PTEN protein. The results show that each version works in a different way and affects the development of cancer to varying degrees.

The first mutation completely disables proteins and often causes cancer in animals, while the second mutation produces proteins that are more active than conventional and sometimes PTEN proteins. .

The third mutation changes proteins and sometimes does not cause cancer.

Using data from more than 400 patients with Cowden syndrome, the researchers found that patients with the same mutations also had cancer in organs like those in mice.

Now researchers are also considering why patients have varying degrees of cancer severity when they have the same genetic mutation.