Study of new mutations may show how cancers grow

[xchrom]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/25/study-of-new-mutations-may-show-how-cancers-grow/



Scientists have discovered two new genetic mutations that occur together in 71 percent of malignant melanoma tumors, an aggressive and deadly cancer of the skin, a study said.

The mutations, detected in a part of the cancer genome that controls genes but not in the genes themselves, could aid understanding and lead to treatment of one of the world’s most lethal cancers or stop its progression.

It “represents an initial foray into the ‘dark matter’ of the cancer genome,” said Dr. Levi Garraway, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“In addition, this represents the discovery of two of the most prevalent melanoma gene mutations,” he said of the findings, which were part of two studies published Thursday in the online edition of the US journal Science.