Not-Internet Marketing: Breast Cancer Master Gene Discovery
Sometimes I like to write about non-Internet marketing topics at this blog, and breast cancer is a topic I have an interest in dating back to when I did my Ph.D. on a molecular aspect of breast cancer.
It appears that there is strong evidence linking a newly discovered gene to the ability of breast cancer to spread. This ability is called “metastasis” and it means that a tumor spreads from one area of the body to many different locations… which makes it much harder to treat. Researchers have found, according to the journal Nature that “the gene, called SATB1, is thought to control the use of around 1000 others to promote the spread, says Dr Terumi Kohwi-Shigematsu of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California”. (reported in the Telegraph)
“When the researchers looked for SATB1 in breast cancer cells from more than 1,300 samples, they found a striking pattern. In almost all cases, the more SATB1 those cells contained, the more aggressive the tumour was.” (link to Nature paper)
This is similar to what I found in my Ph.D. thesis. I looked at the expression of one particular gene which coded for a drug-metabolizing enzyme. The more enzyme there was, the easier the cell could get rid of anti-cancer drugs. What I found was that gene expression was turned off in the drug-sensitive cells by DNA structural changes, which weren’t present in the drug-resistant cells. This is similar to what has been found by the Nature team who are saying that their “master gene” controls spatial changes in the actual DNA, resulting in increased activity of genes responsible for metastasis.
While the search for a “cure” is a long way off, this is exciting news from the forefront or breast cancer research. It also has implications for other cancer types because it raises the question of whether or not this “master” gene controls metastasis in other tumor types.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Interesting news. If they can isolate the genes that cause cancer, it can mean better things to come in the fight against this dreaded disease, and not just for breast cancer.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Hi Neal,
I too wear ‘2 hats’ similar to yourself. One in the health field AND the other in the internet.
On our Natural treatment of breast cancer, I am no geneticist, we have found the MAJOR progenitor of this type of cancer to be heavy metals, especially Dental heavy-metals.
In around 2/3 of our Breast cancer sufferers, in our opinion, their amalgams are either partly OR fully to blame.
Yes cancer is a tragedy AND of course we could not be so ‘naive’ to suggest there is only ONE-CAUSE for ANY cancer. However the obvious sometimes goes un-heralded.
Warmly Glen F Rees.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Hi Glen,
Do you have any scientific evidence, or rationale, to suggest heavy metal involvement?
Neil.
May 26th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Hi Neil,
May I beg your pardon for it seems I misspelt your name. Please forgive me.
Doctors deem the work of Naturopaths as largely Skill-based & NOT OBJECTIVE… As you know, a basic Tenet defining a ’science’.
Normally we cannot argue with Doctors ‘cos, in this instance, they are correct..Although I’d much rather see A SKILFUL DOCTOR than a non-skilful one. Never-the-less they DO-HAVE-A-POINT. BTW: It’s very difficult to objectively measure Skill. However, I go on.
So, what’s my point?
In an effort to bridge this ‘apparent objectivity gap’ we employ a marvellous German diagnostic technology called the ‘CRT’ method OR Computerised Regulation Thermography which helps us establish this Breast/Dental link.
For more information please click here http://www.eidam.com/products/default.asp
Warmly Glen F Rees BSc, ND.