Researchers discover gene that may protect against bowel cancer
Wednesday 25th November 2009
Biomedical researchers have found that a gene may be able to protect people against bowel cancer.
A team working at the University of Dundee discovered that the gene, which is already known to protect the body from harmful chemicals, may also provide resistance to the disease.
According to figures cited by Cancer Research UK, around 37,500 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK, making it the third most common form of cancer.
The scientists revealed that removing a gene called GSTP from mice already predisposed to develop tumours in the small intestine resulted in a 50 per cent increase in the number of pre-cancerous tumours.
Study co-author Dr Colin Henderson stated: "We are very excited that this research will help us study how bowel cancer could be prevented and allow new treatments to be tested."
Bowel cancer incidence rates have remained fairly stable for over a decade, Cancer Research UK suggests.
Written by Alex Franklin Stortford
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