Recent Discovery on Proteins in Breast Cancer

Scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS),which includes Professor Edison Liu and Dr. Edwin Cheung have developed a technique which would enhance the understanding how proteins regulate genes that causes breast cancer. .
A method known as ChIA-PET technology was used in the studies which made a significant finding that certain transcription factors known as oestrogen receptor controls a wide array of genes that stimulate cancer cells to grow.
Oestrogen’s main function is tissue growth and cell proliferation in specific areas in the body. It also promotes the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system.
The oestrogen receptor is important as it controls an on/off switch for genes that cause cancer cells to vigorously multiply.
The new technique enables scientists to pinpoint the set of proteins that controls the genes that stimulates cancer cells to grow and an expert in genomics, Prof Edward Rubin director of the US Department of Energy Joint Genomic Institute and a member of the scientific advisory board of GIS said the study shows on a massive genome- wide scale the interactions between specific enhancers and the genes they regulate.
The discovery provides a complete knowledge and understanding of human DNA which carries the genetic information of all living things.
In breast cancer, the female hormonal system stimulates the genes that activate cancer cells to multiply.
Treatment presently is by blocking this stimuli to activate but a complete understanding of the whole mechanism has still to be unraveled.
This discovery, however is significant as it opens a spectrum of possibilities to make this dreaded disease a thing of the past and women throughout the world may one day need never to worry about the disease and thoughts of having to disfigure a beautiful part of their body when surgery has to be performed.