Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists made a surprising discovery, where in they identified 200 mutated genes which were linked to the development and growth of breast cancer and colon cancer. These genes will prove to be very helpful for the vital research into the further treatment of breast and colon cancer.
Other cancers can be studied using the methods these researchers, called the Hopkins gene hunters, used in discovering the 200 genetic mutations for breast and colon cancers.
Kenneth Kinzler, Ph.D., professor of oncology and co-director of the Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins says “This gives us some understanding of why breast and colon cancers, and most likely other cancers as well, are very different diseases and develop through different processes. When we say this will drive cancer research for the next couple of decades, this is one of the reasons.†He also stated that “Now researchers will study how these mutations occur in breast and colon cancers, perhaps searching for environmental agents or cellular processes that drive these changes.â€
