New Gene Discovery Shows Promise

When a woman comes in with a growth and the doctors biopsy it , the doctors really don't know what the prognosis is.<br><br><I>Dr. Michael Wigler</I> â€œuntil we find out which genes are mutated we're

Wednesday, October 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

When a woman comes in with a growth and the doctors biopsy it , the doctors really don't know what the prognosis is.

Dr. Michael Wigler â€œuntil we find out which genes are mutated we're not going to be able to treat the patient correctly.â€

Maybe ten percent of breast cancers are caused by faulty genes that are inherited. The two genes that so far have gotten the most attention as causes of breast cancer are BRCA1 and 2.

These genes normally help suppress the growth of breast cancers. Persons who carry abnormal copies of these genes are at a higher risk for getting this disease.

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, have found a new piece of DNA. A new gene - that has also shown up abnormal in breast cancer tissue, but was normal and working properly in healthy tissue.

It is called the DBC2 gene - and it works just like BRCA-1.

Dr. Michael Wigler, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories â€œDBC2 is a tumor suppressor, these are genes that actually suppress cancer growth.â€

DBC2, when combined with breast cancer cells, starts to work, and stops the cells from growing. Without it, cancers can grow uncontrolled.

The researchers also found that DBC2 may have a role in, and possibly even treat, lung cancer. But the fact remains, the researchers don't know exactly how DBC2 works.

Dr. WiglerThe DBC2 gene might be a major player in some cancers. We have to find out how large a player it is. We're right at the cusp - that's my view - and I'm a pessimmist.â€