Decoding the genomes of skin and lung cancer cells

2010/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika
• Medikuntza

They confirm that sun and tobacco are the cause of cancer

Researchers from the British Cancer Genome Project have decoded the genomes of malignant melanoma cells and a type of lung cancer (lung microcytic carcinoma). This last type of cancer represents 15% of lung cancers, which together with malignant melanoma causes the death of 250,000 people a year.

Once the cell genomes of several patients were decoded, the researchers sought to identify the most vulnerable genes. In addition, they sought to understand DNA repair mechanisms and develop drugs.

The results of the study have been published in the journal Nature. Among other things, they report that they have identified many mutations: 33,345 in melanoma and 22,910 in lung cancer. In addition, according to the researchers, the work helps to clarify whether the cancer-causing agents directly cause mutations or hinder the DNA repair mechanism. In fact, they have seen that most mutations are the substitutions of a base, produced directly by substances present in tobacco or by ultraviolet rays.

Another conclusion is that it is possible to prevent both types of cancer. However, it is more difficult to develop drugs against them based on the results of the research.