Understanding breast cancer Landscape of cancer genes and mutational processes in breast cancer
In a study recently published in Nature (journal impact factor 36.1), researchers describe nine new genes that drive the development of breast cancer. This takes the tally of all genes associated with breast cancer development to 40.
The team - which includes Anita Langerød and Anne-Lise Børresen-Dale from the Department of Genetics at the Institute for Cancer Research - examined all the genes in the genomes of 100 cases of breast cancer. The mutated cancer-causing genes were different in different cancer samples, indicating that breast cancer is genetically very diverse. Understanding the consequences of this diversity will be important in progressing towards more rational treatment.
Links:
Media release from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (pdf format)
The landscape of cancer genes and mutational processes in breast cancer
Stephens et al.
Nature (2012) DOI: doi:10.1038/nature11017
Published online 16 May 2012
Previous related news articles from ous-research.no:
On two back-to-back reports from Cell (published online on May 17th):
Researchers announce the first comprehensive genome studies of the evolution of 21 breast cancers
On recent Nature publication (published online April 18th):
Nature article describing 2000 breast tumors reveals new subgroups
Home page of Anne-Lise Børresen-Dale's group - Integrated Genomics of Breast Cancer