Researchers discover a gene responsible for one of the deadliest species of breast cancer

Researchers in Australia have discovered a gene responsible for a particularly aggressive type of hormone - sensitive breast cancer, which has tragicly low survival rates.

“We hope this will dramatically improve the results on patients,” said medical research Institute epigeneticist Harry Perkins, Pilar Blancafort.

At present, it is difficult to appreciate the relationship of this gene to the type of cancer. Even under the umbrella of the Bay “cancer” lie some species, such as the breast cancer sensitive to hormone receptors, HER2 positive or non-hormonal; within these groups, there are even more types that can respond to treatments different from each other.

“Anyway, a small percentage of patients experience a very aggressive cancer resulting in the worst results of all breast cancers, with half of all women changing life from disease,” said Blancafort. ”

In 2012, a group of researchers assigned a classification of breast cancer called IntClust, which divided breast cancer into 10 different subgroups, each with various genetic changes and clinical results.

The team noted that IntClust2 tumors were characterised by a piece of DNA in chromosome 11 by significantly amplifying. This part of the chromosome has a lot of potential cancer genes called oncogens but a particular gene called AAMDC, led current researchers to investigate further.

“AAMDC can protect cancerous cells from death and maintain their growth when the tumor is placed in conditions where nutrients are scarce,” explains Blancafort.

This amplification of AAMDC has also been found in ovaries, prostate and lung cancer, so the result may be important for other types of cancer.

This is a significant discovery,”, Blancafort stressed.