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23/06/2003
Scientists identify gene that can 'stop' ovarian cancer
Cancer Research UK scientists have claimed to have isolated a gene that has the power to stop ovarian cancer developing, according to a report published yesterday.
Researchers found that the gene, known as OPCML, was "switched off" in almost 90% of the ovarian tumours that were tested. And experiments in the laboratory have shown that when fully functioning OPCML genes are inserted into human ovarian cancer cells tumour growth is dramatically suppressed.
Dr Hani Gabra, who led the research at Cancer Research UK's Edinburgh oncology unit, said: "This is a very important discovery in identifying what seems to be a key tumour suppressor gene in ovarian cancer.
"We have found that these genes are frequently 'switched off' at very early stages of the disease and fail to make essential proteins. But when we switch these genes back on in the cancer cells tumours are suppressed.
In normal ovarian tissue, OPCML seems to prevent cells from being cancerous but defects in the gene may open the way for development of the disease.
Scientists believe it may be possible to devise drugs to mimic the effects of OPCML in order to block the growth of ovarian cancer cells.
Ovarian cancer has no obvious symptoms in the early stages and is particularly difficult to detect. There is no effective screening procedure that can indicate pre-cancerous cells as there is in cervical and bowel cancer.
Dr Grant Sellar, who also worked on the report, said: "This is an exciting development in our understanding of the early stages of ovarian cancer. Now we need to work on learning more about the function of OPCML and how it works in relation to ovarian cancer."
The lifetime risk for a woman in England or Wales developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 48. In the UK in 2000, there were 4,431 deaths from ovarian cancer – 3,909 in England and Wales, 442 in Scotland and 100 in Northern Ireland.
Five-year survival in England, Wales and Scotland is around 29%, and in Northern Ireland it is around 27%. Sweden has the best five-year survival rate in Europe at 45%.
(GMcG)
Researchers found that the gene, known as OPCML, was "switched off" in almost 90% of the ovarian tumours that were tested. And experiments in the laboratory have shown that when fully functioning OPCML genes are inserted into human ovarian cancer cells tumour growth is dramatically suppressed.
Dr Hani Gabra, who led the research at Cancer Research UK's Edinburgh oncology unit, said: "This is a very important discovery in identifying what seems to be a key tumour suppressor gene in ovarian cancer.
"We have found that these genes are frequently 'switched off' at very early stages of the disease and fail to make essential proteins. But when we switch these genes back on in the cancer cells tumours are suppressed.
In normal ovarian tissue, OPCML seems to prevent cells from being cancerous but defects in the gene may open the way for development of the disease.
Scientists believe it may be possible to devise drugs to mimic the effects of OPCML in order to block the growth of ovarian cancer cells.
Ovarian cancer has no obvious symptoms in the early stages and is particularly difficult to detect. There is no effective screening procedure that can indicate pre-cancerous cells as there is in cervical and bowel cancer.
Dr Grant Sellar, who also worked on the report, said: "This is an exciting development in our understanding of the early stages of ovarian cancer. Now we need to work on learning more about the function of OPCML and how it works in relation to ovarian cancer."
The lifetime risk for a woman in England or Wales developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 48. In the UK in 2000, there were 4,431 deaths from ovarian cancer – 3,909 in England and Wales, 442 in Scotland and 100 in Northern Ireland.
Five-year survival in England, Wales and Scotland is around 29%, and in Northern Ireland it is around 27%. Sweden has the best five-year survival rate in Europe at 45%.
(GMcG)
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