Radiography" href="/tag/Digital-Radiography.html">Digital Radiography: In a recent study, researchers mentioned that there was a genetic relation between developing breast cancer and prostate cancer, both types of cancer result from a faulty BRCA2 gene. The study was highlighted in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics. BRCA2 plays a role in repairing damage in DNA, and was found responsible for developing several types of cancers, such as breast, ovarian and prostate.
The study was funded by the Cancer Research UK charity. Researchers studied DNA defects that cause cancer in mice, genetically engineered to lack BRCA2 gene in their prostate glands. Researchers reported that mice with no BRCA2 gene had faster damage in their DNA. The damage caused negative effects on anti-tumor genes and eventually resulted in developing cancer. Dr. Amanda Swain, the Institute of Cancer Research in London and Sutton, Surrey, the lead author of the study, said "The discovery that BRCA2 alterations play the same role in the development of hereditary prostate cancer as they do in breast cancer is an important step.” She continued "This sheds light on the relationship between the two conditions and could help highlight overlapping areas where similar treatments could be used to treat both."
The recent study represents a new attempt to design medications for BRCA2-linked breast cancers, such as PARP inhibitors. Researchers expect that such medications would be helpful against both breast and prostate cancers. Dr. Swain continued "One type of PARP inhibitor has already shown promise in a patient with advanced prostate cancer, and the early results are encouraging," The Director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, Dr Lesley Walker, said "We've made great progress in developing drugs for hereditary breast cancer - particularly in targeting cancers caused by specific faulty genes through drugs like PARP inhibitors." He continued "It would be fantastic if these drugs could 'multi-task' and treat prostate cancer too."