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Breast cancer – genetics play their part
More news in the battle against breast cancer: American researchers have shown that a genetic mutation could be involved in 30% to 40% of cases of breast cancer that elude traditional chemotherapy. The codename given to this is Metadherin or MTDH.
This genetic variation is located on chromosome 8 and appears to increase the risk of metastasis. By inhibiting MTDH, it could eventually be possible to reduce the risk of metastasis. And also to increase the chances of remission for around 40% of breast cancers, researchers at Princeton University, New Jersey conclude.
This is the second time that the role of a genetic predisposition has been brought to light in relation to the occurrence of breast tumours. In September last year, a French team at INSERM (the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research) identified another genetic mutation involved in the genesis of benign breast tumours. The discovery of MTDH therefore represents a new stage in understanding the proliferation mechanism that lies behind breast cancer.
It is worth remembering that the number of such cancers has been on the rise since the 1950s, and they are increasingly affecting young women, under the age of 40. In a country like France, their frequency has increased by as much as 60% in 20 years, with 41,000 new cases diagnosed last year. No doubt this is to some extent due to better organised screening.
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