Genes Leading To Aggressive Brain Cancer Discovered

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2 Genes Leading To Aggressive Brain Cancer Discovered New York, Dec.28, (PRINTWORDS NEWS) After a study spanning over 30 years, a team of scientists at the Columbia University have discovered two genes which are responsible for causing one of the most terminal forms of brain cancer. The discovery is expected to herald a new era in cancer treatment as it would enable better understanding of the incurable cancerous condition. The findings, which was recently published in the science journal, Nature, reveals that when the two genes are active simultaneously, they result in one of the most deadly form of brain cancer known as Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM).

During the research, scientists thoroughly studied Glioblastoma multiforme, which is one of the most lethal kind of primary brain tumor in humans as it attacks a normal human brain drastically and results in tumorous growths that cannot be operated. In order to reach a decisive conclusion in the research, scientists had to decipher a highly complicated arrangement of molecular interactions that decides the nature and the behavior of the cancerous tumor cells.

Antonio Iavarone, who headed the research added, “We now know that two genes – C/EPB and Stat3 – are the disease’s master ‘control knobs’. When simultaneously activated, they work together to turn on hundreds of other genes that transform brain cells into highly aggressive, migratory cells.” At the same time, it has been revealed that the two genes play a pivotal role in 60% of the patients suffering from GBM. Moreover, all the patients in the research whose cancerous cells showed activity of both the genes, survived for only 140 weeks after they were diagnosed with the disease. However, the mortality rate of patients without the two active genes turned out to be much higher.

The new revelations of the research are likely to play a significant role in devising advanced treatments for the cancerous conditions, which otherwise turns out to be a immensely difficult task. It has been seen that conventional treatments are not very effective on the glioblastoma cells but can have detrimental effects on the normal brain cells. Moreover, the ability of the brain cells to undergo repair is largely restricted, as a result of which these factors pose a major hazard in the proper cure of the terminal illness.

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