Scientists Discover Scaramanga Gene's Bond with Breast Cancer
31 Aug 2005 - Breakthrough Breast Cancer today announce that UK scientists have discovered that a gene – named after the James Bond villain Scaramanga – can trigger the development of breasts. This has important implications for breast cancer, as reported in the journal Genes and Development.
“Identifying the Scaramanga gene is a real advance in our understanding of the early steps in breast formation. By learning more about this gene and the protein it produces, it will allow us to determine how normal breast development is initiated and, importantly, examine how this is connected with breast cancer,” said Professor Alan Ashworth, Director of The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre.
The Scaramanga gene has been found to influence the number and position of breasts, as well as produce a protein called NRG3, which provides a signal telling embryonic cells to become breast cells. The team showed that a synthetic form of NRG3 was able to initiate the formation of breast cells, confirming the protein’s involvement in this intricate process.
“Whilst proteins carefully control the development of breast cells in the embryo, inappropriate signals to breast cells during adulthood by these same molecules may cause breast cancer. We already believe that the protein produced by the Scaramanga gene is linked with breast cancer and the next steps are to study this in more detail.” concluded Professor Ashworth.
Find out more about Professor Ashworth’s Research and The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre.
