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LANDmArKovAriAN CANCEr DiSCovEry
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CiENtiStS hAvE DiSCovErED that women who carry a faulty copy of a gene called rAD51D have almost a 1 in 11 chance of developing ovarian cancer, the most significant ovarian cancer gene discovery for more than
a decade, according to a study published in Nature Genetics. the team at the institute of
cancer Research (icR) examined dNa from women from 911 families with ovarian and breast cancer, and compared differences in dNa with a control group of 1060 people from the general population; they discovered eight gene faults in the Rad51d gene in women with cancer, compared with only one in the control group. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most
common cancer in women with approximately 6500 cases diagnosed in the uK every year. the researchers estimate that Rad51d gene faults are present in almost 1% of women with ovarian cancer. 'Women with a fault in Rad51d gene have a 1 in 11
chance of developing ovarian cancer. at this level of risk, women may wish to consider having their ovaries removed after having children, to prevent ovarian cancer occurring,' said cancer Research uK-funded scientist and study author Professor Nazneen Rahman, head of thedivision of Genetics and epidemiology at the institute of cancer Research and the Royal Marsden. approximately 1 woman in 70 of the population is at risk of developing ovarian cancer, but for those
with a Rad51d gene fault, this risk is increased to 1 in 11, making these women 6-times more likely to develop the disease. the Rad51d gene is important for repairing
damaged dNa. When the Rad51d gene is faulty, a key repair pathway fails. this means that dNa damage is not fixed and faults build up in cells, making them more likely to lead to cancer. the team also showed
that cells with faulty Rad51d can be selectively destroyed by a relatively new class of cancer drug called
PaRP
inhibitors. these are showing
great
promise in clinical trials for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers, with faults in the BRca1 and BRca2 genes, which are also important for repairing dNa.
Ovarian cancer often develops without any
clear symptoms and many women only discover they have it once it has spread. Professor Nic Jones, cancer Research uK’s chief
scientist, said: 'it’s incredibly exciting to discover this high-risk gene for ovarian cancer. it’s further evidence that a range of different high-risk genes are causing the development of breast and ovarian cancer and we hope there are more waiting to be discovered in different cancers. 'We believe the results of this research will help
inform personalised treatment approaches and give doctors better information about risks of cancer to tell patients.'
Lifestyle factors for a healthier life
Don't smoke, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and go easy on the alcohol, and you are likely not only to have fewer chronic health problems, but also to live longer, according to a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which concludes that neglecting to follow these four healthy behaviours is responsible for much of the illness and death linked to chronic diseases. The study, published in the American
Journal of Public Health, finds that even practising one of these healthy behaviours can make a difference to length of life. For the study, CDC researchers used
data on 16 958 people who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study from 1988 to 2006. All of them were aged 17 years and over, and were considered to be a representative sample of people living in the US. An analysis of links between the four
low-risk behaviours and mortality, found that the number of low-risk behaviours was inversely related to the risk of death—the more behaviours, the lower the risk. Compared with participants who had
no low-risk behaviours, those who practised all four were 66% less likely to die early from cancer, 65% less likely to die early from a major cardiovascular disease, and 57% less likely to die early from other causes. The researchers conclude that
low-risk lifestyle factors exert a powerful and beneficial effect on mortality. The goal should be for more people to practise more of the healthy behaviours.
Study evaluates pressure device as treatment for scar tissue
A recently published study in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery examines the use of a new pressure device worn overnight to supplement other therapies for auricular keloids. 'Treatment of auricular keloids is a
unique challenge owing to the complex anatomy of the auricle, from a cartilaginous skeleton underneath a delicate layer of skin to a fat pad enveloped in thicker
10 ❚
skin that forms the earlobe,' the authors explain. The authors examined the use of a
pressure device as a potential treatment for this condition in seven patients between December 2007 and March 2009. Patients underwent surgical removal of the keloids and injections of corticosteroids. They were then instructed to wear the pressure device overnight at least 5 nights per week until the scar level
September 2011 |
prime-journal.com
matched the healthy skin surrounding it, or after two adjustments if the device failed
to produce
improvement. The device was made of acrylate (a polymer) in two portions, which were held in place by magnets along the rim of the ear. Patients treated with the device
reported no problems and none interrupted or stopped the treatment. After a mean follow-up of 24 months, keloid recurrence was
not observed in any patient. All of those treated reported satisfaction with no abnormal sensations. While the use of pressure devices
to treat keloids is not new, the device used in this study more adequately meets the requirements of an ideal auricular pressure device. Larger trials with long-term follow-up would enhance understanding of the role the device could play in the improvement of scar management.
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