ironjustice
2012-08-09 23:41:58 UTC
Scientists discover how iron levels and a faulty gene cause bowel
cancer
HIGH LEVELS of iron could raise the risk of bowel cancer by switching
on a key pathway in people with faults in a critical anti-cancer gene,
according to a study published in Cell Reports* today (Thursday).
Cancer Research UK scientists, based at the University of Birmingham
and the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, found bowel
cancers were two to three times more likely to develop in mice with a
faulty APC gene that were fed high amounts of iron compared to mice
who still had a working APC gene.
In contrast, mice with a faulty APC gene fed a diet low in iron did
not develop bowel cancer at all.
Study author Professor Owen Sansom, deputy director of the Cancer
Research UK Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, said:
"We've made a huge step in understanding how bowel cancer develops.
The APC gene is faulty in around eight out of 10 bowel cancers but
until now we haven't known how this causes the disease.
"It's clear that iron is playing a critical role in controlling the
development of bowel cancer in people with a faulty APC gene. And,
intriguingly, our study shows that even very high levels of iron in
the diet don't cause cancer by itself, but rely on the APC gene."
Co-author Dr Chris Tselepis, a Cancer Research UK scientist at the
University of Birmingham, said: "Our results also suggest that iron
could be raising the risk of bowel cancer by increasing the number of
cells in the bowel with APC faults. The more of these cells in the
bowel, the greater the chance that one of these will become a starting
point for cancer.
"We're now planning to develop treatments that reduce the amount of
iron in the bowel and so could lower the risk of developing bowel
cancer. We hope to start using these in trials in the next few years
in people who are at a greater risk."
The study could also explain why foods such as red meat, which have
high levels of iron, are linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer.
When the APC gene is deleted, two proteins are switched on that cause
iron to build up in bowel cells. When this happens, a key cancer
signalling pathway called wnt is switched on, causing cells to grow
out of control.
In mice fed a diet with no iron, cells with a faulty APC gene were
killed and bowel cancers did not develop. Mice with a fully
functioning APC gene did not develop bowel cancers, even when fed a
diet high in iron. In these bowel cells, the iron accumulation
proteins are turned off and wnt signalling remains inactive.
Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research
UK, said: "Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.
These findings suggest a potentially effective way of reducing the
chances of bowel cancer developing in people who are at high risk.
Finding ways of 'mopping up' the iron that is in the bowel could have
a real impact on the number of people who develop the disease.
"This research is a great example of scientists coming together and
sharing their different expertise to find new ways of understanding
and potentially preventing cancer."
###
For media enquiries please contact Simon Shears in the Cancer Research
UK press office on 020 3469 8054 or, out-of-hours, the duty press
officer on 07050 264 059.
Contact: Simon Shears
***@cancer.org.uk
44-203-469-8054
Cancer Research UK
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/cru-sdh080712.php
Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a
Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk
cancer
HIGH LEVELS of iron could raise the risk of bowel cancer by switching
on a key pathway in people with faults in a critical anti-cancer gene,
according to a study published in Cell Reports* today (Thursday).
Cancer Research UK scientists, based at the University of Birmingham
and the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, found bowel
cancers were two to three times more likely to develop in mice with a
faulty APC gene that were fed high amounts of iron compared to mice
who still had a working APC gene.
In contrast, mice with a faulty APC gene fed a diet low in iron did
not develop bowel cancer at all.
Study author Professor Owen Sansom, deputy director of the Cancer
Research UK Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, said:
"We've made a huge step in understanding how bowel cancer develops.
The APC gene is faulty in around eight out of 10 bowel cancers but
until now we haven't known how this causes the disease.
"It's clear that iron is playing a critical role in controlling the
development of bowel cancer in people with a faulty APC gene. And,
intriguingly, our study shows that even very high levels of iron in
the diet don't cause cancer by itself, but rely on the APC gene."
Co-author Dr Chris Tselepis, a Cancer Research UK scientist at the
University of Birmingham, said: "Our results also suggest that iron
could be raising the risk of bowel cancer by increasing the number of
cells in the bowel with APC faults. The more of these cells in the
bowel, the greater the chance that one of these will become a starting
point for cancer.
"We're now planning to develop treatments that reduce the amount of
iron in the bowel and so could lower the risk of developing bowel
cancer. We hope to start using these in trials in the next few years
in people who are at a greater risk."
The study could also explain why foods such as red meat, which have
high levels of iron, are linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer.
When the APC gene is deleted, two proteins are switched on that cause
iron to build up in bowel cells. When this happens, a key cancer
signalling pathway called wnt is switched on, causing cells to grow
out of control.
In mice fed a diet with no iron, cells with a faulty APC gene were
killed and bowel cancers did not develop. Mice with a fully
functioning APC gene did not develop bowel cancers, even when fed a
diet high in iron. In these bowel cells, the iron accumulation
proteins are turned off and wnt signalling remains inactive.
Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research
UK, said: "Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.
These findings suggest a potentially effective way of reducing the
chances of bowel cancer developing in people who are at high risk.
Finding ways of 'mopping up' the iron that is in the bowel could have
a real impact on the number of people who develop the disease.
"This research is a great example of scientists coming together and
sharing their different expertise to find new ways of understanding
and potentially preventing cancer."
###
For media enquiries please contact Simon Shears in the Cancer Research
UK press office on 020 3469 8054 or, out-of-hours, the duty press
officer on 07050 264 059.
Contact: Simon Shears
***@cancer.org.uk
44-203-469-8054
Cancer Research UK
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/cru-sdh080712.php
Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a
Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk