Surprise Discovery of Three New Breast Cancer Genes
3 May 2011 – Scientists from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, at The Institute of Cancer Research, have found three new genes linked to the most common form of breast cancer.
The team was astonished because the genes were found directly next to the oestrogen receptor gene, the main driver of hormonal breast cancer. The oestrogen receptor has been intensively studied by scientists for decades and is located in one of the most well-examined areas of the genome.
The three genes identified were C6ORF96, C6ORF97 and C6ORF211. All three were found to be linked to the oestrogen receptor but working separately from it. As a result, their activity is unlikely to be affected by current treatments, such as tamoxifen, which target the oestrogen receptor. This could mean that they are potential targets for new drug treatments.
