Gene that regulates breast cancer metastasis identified.London, Oct 6 (ANI): Wistar Institute scientists have identified a gene called KLF KLF Kopyright Liberation Front (musicians group) KLF Kips (Kilopounds) per Lineal Foot KLF Kruppel Like Factor KLF Kashmir Liberation Front (India) 17, which appears to be involved in the spread of breast cancer throughout the body. "Identifying the gene that suppresses the spread of tumor cells and the mechanisms by which this suppression occurs can lead to the discovery of new markers of metastasis metastasis /me·tas·ta·sis/ (me-tas´tah-sis) pl. metas´tases 1. transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another not directly connected with it, due either to transfer of pathogenic microorganisms or to and potential targets for cancer prevention and treatment," Nature quoted Dr Qihong Huang, assistant professor at The Wistar Institute and senior author of the study as saying. During the study, the researchers genetic screened 40,000 mouse genes into mammary mammary /mam·ma·ry/ (mam´ah-re) pertaining to the mammary gland, or breast. mam·ma·ry adj. Of or relating to a breast or mamma. mammary pertaining to the mammary gland. tumour cells that do not usually spread, and then transplanted those cells to the mammary fat pads in mice where they would be expected to remain. Through RNA interference RNA interference n. A process in which the introduction of double-stranded RNA into a cell inhibits the expression of genes. (RNAi) technology, they then reduced the expression of a metastasis-suppressor gene in five mice, one of which developed lung metastases in seven weeks. RNA RNA: see nucleic acid. RNA in full ribonucleic acid One of the two main types of nucleic acid (the other being DNA), which functions in cellular protein synthesis in all living cells and replaces DNA as the carrier of genetic retrieved from the metastasized cells corresponded to KLF17. The researchers also were interested specifically in genes whose expression were increased in KLF17 knockdown cells but decreased in KLF17 overexpressing cells or vice versa. They found the significant genes that met these criteria. Among them, the gene Id1 was found to be up-regulated in KLF17 knockdown cells and down-regulated in KLF17 overexpressing cells. The study showed that that expression of KLF17 together with Id1gene accurately predicts whether the disease will spread to the lymph nodes. The study appears online in Nature Cell. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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