Found the source of cancer? Scientists have found that if the ATAD2 gene is removed, cells cannot become cancerous

In 1912, a French doctor discovered cancer cells, which opened the prelude to the "war" between humans and cancer;

In 1969, Huebner and Todaro put forward the "oncogene hypothesis", which made humans one step closer to the truth of cancer ;

In the following decades, anti-cancer methods such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, targeted therapy , and immunotherapy have emerged one after another, but humans have never been able to determine the true source of cancer.

By 2020, the number of new cancer patients worldwide will reach 19.3 million, and the number of deaths will approach 10 million. What can human beings do to face cancer?

Where is the source of cancer? Recently, a new study showed that the source of cancer may have been found.

1. Subversion: Scientists or find the source of cancer

After decades of development, the medical profession has reached a consensus: normal cells undergo gene mutations during the division process, activate oncogenes, and inhibit Tumor suppressor genes eventually develop into cancer cells. There are thousands of mutant cells in everyone's body, but they don't necessarily cause cancer. cancer will only occur when it reaches a certain number.

But now, the consensus of may be overturned by .

The research team led by Professor Richard M. White of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Center found thatIn the melanoma zebrafish model, the ATAD2 gene is the "essential gene" that controls the formation of melanoma .

After excluding the ATAD2 gene, even if there are other carcinogenic factors, cells cannot become cancerous, and it is difficult to form tumors . As long as the ATAD2 gene is added, the cancerous ability of cells will rise rapidly.

Researchers pointed out that although genetic mutations are the main factor that promotes the formation of cancer, not all mutations are carcinogenic. Only the cell environment and genetic mutation synergistically act can produce cancer.

Therefore, we can target the destruction of ATAD2 gene, inhibit carcinogenic ability, and achieve the effect of curing cancer.

As early as 2010, Professor Richard, who was studying for a postdoctoral fellow, discovered that in the zebrafish melanoma model, the genetic characteristics of many cancer cells are more biased towards 1spanspansstrong spanspanspanspan_strong34 , Instead of mature melanocyte . Professor Richard finally proved that: alone has gene mutations, which is not enough to make normal cells cancerous .

After more than ten years of painstaking research, Professor Richard finally led the team to discover the ATAD2 gene, the key factor in the carcinogenesis of cells , which overturned existing cognition.

This discovery brings new ideas for curing cancer.

2. A cancer vaccine turned out to increase the survival rate by 3 times

Since vaccines can be developed for many diseases, why can't cancer be treated with vaccines?

In fact, different tumors have their own unique mutation composition, and the genetic changes "shared" between patients are only a small part. To use vaccines to treat cancer, it is necessary to customize it for patients.

EGFR is the most common large family of oncogenes . At present, there are nearly 20 types of targeted drugs developed for EGFR, including lung cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, cancer Span2span, , colorectal cancer and other cancers play an important role.

However, targeted drugs also have resistance problems that are difficult to solve. In order to get out of the plight of targeted drugs, scientists have turned their attention to cancer vaccines.

As a cancer vaccine targeting the EGFR signaling pathway, CIMAvax-EGF completed Phase III clinical trials 5 years ago.The test results showed that after injection of CIMAvax-EGF , the median survival time of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer was extended from 9.43 months to 12.43 months, and the 5-year survival rate of increased from 6.2% to 16.62% .

At present, CIMAvax-EGF has been marketed in Cuba, and a local clinical trial has been launched in the United States, and it is expected to be marketed in the United States.

However, scientists have never stopped developing EGFR mutation vaccines.

Recently, American scientists announced that developed for EGFR mutations is a specific vaccine is safe. In clinical trials, 24 patients with EGFR mutations and refractory advanced non-small cell lung cancer were vaccinated, and 3 patients developed symptoms such as skin rash, fatigue, and fever. 7 patients' tumors shrank significantly, and 1 patient's tumors shrank significantly. The tumor disappeared completely , and the initial effect was hopeful.

Extension science: Is cancer genetic testing necessary?

In essence, cancer is a genetic disease. Congenital hereditary tumors accounts for 5%~10% of all tumors.The

study found that the average probability of a harmful mutation gene being passed on to offspring is about 50%. hereditary breast cancer and hereditary ovarian cancer , the causative gene is BRCA1/2, the risk of carriers is 56%~87%, 27%~48%; hereditary Gastric cancer , the causative gene is CDH1, the risk of carriers is 80%; familial adenomatous polyposis , the causative gene is APC, and the risk of bowel cancer is 90%.

To prevent hereditary tumors, the most effective clinical method is genetic testing. Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Oncology Department Huang Shan said that genetic testing is not suitable for everyone, most people do not need , generally suitable for people with a family history of hereditary tumors.

For example:

1. Several first-degree relatives in the family have cancer at the same time;

polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract;

3. Family members have known genetic mutations;

4. Family members suffer from cancer at a very young age;

5. Close relatives have rare cancers closely related to heredity;

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6. Cancers in different family members are related to mutations in the same gene.

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Reference materials:

[1] Science: Subvert the textbook! Scientists have found the source of cancer and have new ideas for curing cancer. Biological World. 2021-09-10

[2] Can vaccines cure cancer? . Medical News and Drug News .2021-08-05

[3] New lung cancer "gold mutation" drugs have been released one after another, and the EGFR cancer vaccine turned out to be a significant increase in the 5-year survival rate of patients by nearly three times! . Dongdong Cancer Friends Circle. 2021-08-11

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