Biomedical scientists make lung cancer discovery
Monday 22nd March 2010
A team of biomedical scientists have made a discovery concerning an uncommon gene variant.
In a collaborative study involving five centres in the US, it was found that around 30 per cent of patients who never smoked bur developed lung cancer have an allele called GPC5.
They suggest that this gene could be responsible for a significant number of lung cancers as it has an important suppressor-like function which can promote the development of tumours.
The project was the first genome-wide association study conducted solely among never-smokers and it involved scanning the entire genome of every participant.
Lead investigator Ping Yang described the findings as "very exciting".
He added: "This is the first gene that has been found that is specifically associated with lung cancer in people who have never smoked."
According to Cancer Research UK, the disease is the second most common form of cancer in Britain and 39,000 people were diagnosed with it in 2006.
Written by Megan Smith
Related articles
Chemical to tackle breast cancer found in celery
Doctors and those in biomedical science jobs have long been searching for a definitive treatment to help treat breast cancer, but...
Thursday 17th May 2012
Prostate cancer drug set to be approved
A prostate cancer drug is set to be approved and put into use across NHS services after previously being rejected. The...
Wednesday 16th May 2012
Blindness could be treated with diabetes drug
Blindness is one condition that many people fear, the debilitating effect that it has can change a person's life forever. ...
Wednesday 9th May 2012
Related Biomedical-Science Jobs
We currently require qualified and experienced Biomedical Scientists in the Kent and Medway; Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford,...
Full infoWe are currently recruiting for experienced Biomedical Scientist for both locum and permanent vacancies across the Yorkshire...
Full infoInterested in Biomedical Science jobs in Wales; Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Conwy...
Full info