DNA sequence 'could lead to breast cancer diagnosis'

Although one in five women survive breast cancer beyond five years, healthcare experts are constantly striving to reduce mortality rates and a team in the UK claim they may have found the answer.

The 20 per cent of women who do not survive breast cancer beyond five years are largely those who have not been diagnosed as early and their disease has had time to progress, but the specialists at Nottingham University say that a new discovery may lead to earlier identification.

Experts led by Dr Cristina Tufarelli, from the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health Sciences, say that 'junk DNA' may be the key to spotting breast and bowel cancer earlier and helping to reduce the number of deaths.

She told cancer cover holders that a group of genetic rogue elements, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as junk DNA, are more common in breast cancer cells than normal cells.

According to the expert, seven of these faulty genetic elements, known as chimeric transcripts, can be found in breast cancer cells, with five in particular indicating that that the patient has the disease, which can lead to earlier and more effective treatment.

The study has been published in the latest Genomics journal and was funded by Cancer Research UK, and Dr Tufarelli told cancer insurance customers: "These rogue elements are produced by DNA sequences called LINE-1. Despite being labelled as 'junk DNA' it is clear that some of these sequences have important roles in the genome, such as influencing when genes are switched on."

She added that the team now hopes to conduct a study which helps to provide further evidence of the role played by the junk DNA in helping to spot the disease.

Posted by Stephen Tate

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