- Joined
- Aug 14, 2009
- Messages
- 3,634
- Points
- 0
SINGAPORE: Singapore scientists have, for the first time, identified a gene responsible for lung cancer.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) said the finding, reported in the advanced online issue of Cell on January 5, is a huge step towards finding a cure for the disease.
The team is headed by Dr Bing Lim, associate director of Cancer Stem Cell Biology at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), a research institute under the umbrella of A*STAR, and Dr Elaine Lim, medical oncologist affiliated with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS).
A*STAR said a small number of cells, known as cancer stem cells or tumour-initiating cells (TIC), are responsible for the promotion of tumour growth.
And the team was successful in finding a marker, known as CD166, to identify these cells.
With the finding of this marker, the team then made more inroads into the genomic study of the TICs, and discovered several genes that were important for the growth of cancer cells.
The metabolic enzyme known as glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) is a normal occurring enzyme in cells, present in small quantities.
The scientists discovered that in abnormal instances when the level of GLDC rises significantly, it causes changes in the behaviour of the cell, making it cancerous.
- CNA/cc
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) said the finding, reported in the advanced online issue of Cell on January 5, is a huge step towards finding a cure for the disease.
The team is headed by Dr Bing Lim, associate director of Cancer Stem Cell Biology at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), a research institute under the umbrella of A*STAR, and Dr Elaine Lim, medical oncologist affiliated with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS).
A*STAR said a small number of cells, known as cancer stem cells or tumour-initiating cells (TIC), are responsible for the promotion of tumour growth.
And the team was successful in finding a marker, known as CD166, to identify these cells.
With the finding of this marker, the team then made more inroads into the genomic study of the TICs, and discovered several genes that were important for the growth of cancer cells.
The metabolic enzyme known as glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) is a normal occurring enzyme in cells, present in small quantities.
The scientists discovered that in abnormal instances when the level of GLDC rises significantly, it causes changes in the behaviour of the cell, making it cancerous.
- CNA/cc
