Breast cancer: ADAMTS genes could be the key to developing new smart drugs
A newly identified collection of genes could be employed in the fight against breast cancer, scientists have found.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia discovered that genes known as ADAMTS are shut down in cancerous tissues compared with normal breast tissue. The genes are part of a larger collection of genes called metalloproteinases, which break down tissues and have been linked with the spread of tumours throughout the body.
Scientists are hopeful that in locating the ADAMTS, they may be a step closer to developing smart drugs that can be tailored to treat the needs of individual patients.
Commenting on the discovery, lead researcher Professor Dylan Edwards, said: "We are beginning to understand how genes contribute to breast cancer development and I am confident this work will ultimately prove valuable for both diagnosis and treatment of the disease."
The development was announced as a team of Danish researchers revealed the results of a study which indicates that high levels of stress may reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer.
The research was based on responses from nearly 7,000 women who lived in Copenhagen between 1981 and 1983 and monitored whether any went on to develop breast cancer over the next 18 years. Some 251 women did suffer the disease and the researchers concluded that those reporting high levels of stress were 40% less likely to develop breast cancer than women who claimed to experience low stress levels.
Although the scientists admitted that the work was by no means indicative of whether stress is an important factor in breast cancer risk, the British Heart Foundation warned that excess stress can increase the risk of heart disease and other illnesses.
