Scientists unlock the secrets of gene that fights cancer

Published on Wednesday 27 May 2009 21:59

BRITISH scientists have made a "major breakthrough'' in the fight against breast and ovarian cancers after unlocking secrets of a crucial tumour-busting gene.

It has long been known that defects in a gene called BRCA1 put women at much greater risk of developing aggressive cancers. The mutation leaves the body unable to repair broken DNA and can lead to cancer-forming cells.

But exactly how the BRCA1 functions and why a faulty gene causes cancer have remained a mystery, until now.

Scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) found that a defective BRCA1 gene is unable to interact with a protein called CtlP, making it unable to repair damaged DNA and ward off tumours.

The findings could lead to effective treatments and save more than 150,000 women in the UK who develop breast cancer due to the BRCA1 mutation. The lead author, Dr Kevin Hiom, said the findings were a "major breakthrough''.

He said: "If you can understand how these things work better you can find their Achilles' heel. It gives us a better chance of finding the right treatment or prevention."

Dr Hiom added: "Up to now, it was unclear how this accurate mechanism for repairing DNA breaks is turned on, so we are very pleased with the result. Now we know what's wrong, we can try and find ways to put it right.''

The researchers used chicken cells to study the effects of DNA damage and repair. They found that strands of DNA were regularly broken by the ''wear and tear'' of natural cell division.

About 11 per cent of women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Roughly a third of these are triggered by a defective BRCA1 gene.