British researchers have proposed the first comprehensive map of the mutation process of tumor formation. This new research finds that it may help to treat and prevent a large number of cancers in the future.
By studying the genomes of more than 7,000 common cancer patients, the team discovered 21 so-called "markers" of the DNA mutation process.
Serena Nick Zain of the Sanger Institute at the Welkom Foundation, who participated in the research, said: "This is an important step towards revealing the process of cancer formation. Through detailed analysis, we can take advantage of the deep hidden in cancer DNA The vast amount of information helps us understand the mechanism and cause of cancer. "
All cancers are caused by DNA mutations that occur in cells of the human body.
Although scientists know that chemicals in tobacco smoke can cause lung cell mutations to cause lung cancer and ultraviolet light can cause skin cell mutations to cause skin cancer, they know very little about the biological process that causes mutations to cause most cancers.
Mike Stratton, director of the Sanger Institute and head of the research project, said: "We started to have a lot of understanding of the causality of these mutation processes. But in fact our understanding of the causes of mutations is still very shallow."
The research team analyzed the genetic codes of 7042 cancer patients worldwide (covering 30 types of cancer) in an attempt to understand the markers of the mutation process.
The researchers found that all cancers have two or more markers, which reflects that various processes work synergistically in the formation of cancer.
The researchers also found that the number of mutations in different cancers varies. They said that the formation of ovarian cancer is composed of two mutation processes, while the formation of liver cancer has six mutation processes.
Some mutation markers exist in multiple cancer types, while others only exist in a certain cancer type. Of the 30 types of cancer, 25 have markers caused by the mutation process associated with aging.
In analyzing the causes of many common cancers, the research team also discovered a family of enzymes that cause DNA mutations, called APOBECs, which are associated with more than half of cancer types.
When the body responds to viral infections, APOBECs enzymes are activated. The researchers said that the markers generated may be indirect damage to the human genome when these enzymes play a role in protecting cells against viruses.
Stratton called the research results like "archaeological traces" of many mutation processes that caused most cancers.
He said: "This mutation marker map and the resulting knowledge about the potential mutation process has a profound impact on understanding cancer formation."
airpod case cover
Guangzhou Ysure Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.ysurecase.com