(Press-News.org) A team of scientists from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore and National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS), and their collaborators from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, UCLA School of Medicine, demonstrated that a number of novel genetic defects are able to induce oesophageal cancer.
The research group, led by Professor H. Phillip Koeffler, Senior Principal Investigator at CSI Singapore and Deputy Director of NCIS, has conducted a successful comprehensive genomic study of oesophageal squamous carcinoma, a type of very aggressive cancer prevalent in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
This novel study was first published online in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics on 30 March 2014.
In this study, the researchers comprehensively investigated a large variety of genetic lesions which arose from oesophageal squamous carcinoma. The results showed enrichment of genetic abnormalities that affect several important cellular process and pathways in human cells, which promote the development of this malignancy. The scientists also uncovered a number of novel candidate genes that may make the cancer sensitive to chemotherapy. The researchers' findings provide a molecular basis for the comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of oesophageal carcinoma as well as for developing novel therapies for this deadly disease. These groundbreaking results have immediate relevance for cancer researchers, as well as for clinical oncologists who currently do not have effective therapeutic agents to treat this type of cancer.
Dr Lin Dechen, Research Fellow at CSI Singapore and first author of the research paper, noted, "Our findings are very relevant to Singapore and the region because this disease is endemic to Southeast Asia. More importantly, many potential therapeutic drugs have surfaced from our analysis, with some of them already in use for treating other types of tumours. We are more than excited to test their efficacy in oesophageal cancer."
Prof Koeffler said, "Oesophageal squamous cancer is one of most common causes of cancer-related death, and is particularly prevalent in Southeast Asia. We wanted to understand this major burden on the local public health system and to help find solutions. By completely investigating all human genes at the single nucleotide level, our current findings provide an enhanced road map for the study of the molecular basis underlying this somewhat neglected malignancy."
With the discovery of these previously unrecognised genetic defects, Prof Koeffler and his team will explore the detailed molecular mechanisms in the next phase of research. In addition, the scientists will evaluate whether some of these defects can be used in the clinic to cure this disease.
INFORMATION: END
Scientists discover a number of novel genetic defects which cause oesophageal cancer
Latest findings by a team of international scientists led by Singapore-based researchers reveal the genomic landscape of oesophageal squamous carcinoma
2014-03-31
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
What will climate policy mean for coal?
2014-03-31
Limiting climate change to 2°C means shutting down coal power plants - an unpopular proposition for coal power companies. But a new study shows that delaying climate policies could prove even worse for power plant owners.
Coal power plants are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and new plants are planned around the world, particularly in India and China. These new power plants are built to run for 30-50 years, paying off only after years of operation. But stringent climate policies could make the cost of emission so high that coal power generation is no longer ...
Online self-injury information often inaccurate, study finds
2014-03-31
People seeking help or information online about cutting and other forms of self-injury are likely finding falsehoods and myths, according to new research from the University of Guelph.
Only about 10 per cent of websites providing information about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are endorsed by health or academic institutions, according to a study published recently in JAMA Pediatrics, a journal of the American Medical Association.
It's a troubling finding, says lead author Stephen Lewis, a Guelph psychology professor. "This is a salient public health issue," he said.
People ...
Tamiflu-resistant influenza: Parsing the genome for the culprits
2014-03-31
Tamiflu is one of the few available treatments for those who come down with the flu. But the virus quickly develops resistance; multiplying at a rate of several generations a day, these tiny pathogens rapidly accumulate genetic mutations. Because of this, they have a good chance of developing counterattacks to the antiviral. How can these infinitesimal variations be identified within the immensity of the virus' genetic code? EPFL researchers have created a computer tool that can shed light on the flu virus' formidable adaptability. They were able to find mutations that ...
Using different scents to attract or repel insects
2014-03-31
Flowering plants attract pollinating insects with scent from their flowers and bright colours. If they have become infested with herbivores like caterpillars, they attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps with the help of scent signals from their leaves. The wasps then lay their eggs in the caterpillars and kill the parasites. Floral and foliar scents can, however, mutually reduce their attractiveness. That's why flowering plants face a dilemma: should they use their resources to attract pollinating insects and, by extension, for reproduction or should they invest ...
'Cosmic barometer' could reveal violent events in universe's past
2014-03-31
Exploding stars, random impacts involving comets and meteorites, and even near misses between two bodies can create regions of great heat and high pressure.
Researchers from Imperial College London have now developed a method for analysing the pressure experienced by tiny samples of organic material that may have been ejected from dying stars before making a long journey through the cosmos. The researchers have investigated a type of aromatic hydrocarbon called dimethylnaphthalene, which should enable them to identify violent events in the history of the universe.
Samples ...
Hearing loss affects old people's personality
2014-03-31
The researchers studied 400 individuals 80-98 years old over a six-year period. Every two years, the subjects were assessed in terms of physical and mental measures as well as personality aspects such as extraversion, which reflects the inclination to be outgoing, and emotional stability. The results show that even if the emotional stability remained constant over the period, the participants became less outgoing.
Interestingly, the researchers were not able to connect the observed changes to physical and cognitive impairments or to age-related difficulties finding social ...
Mild hypothermia for treatment of diffuse axonal injury: A quantitative DTI analysis
2014-03-31
Mild hypothermia has been shown to exert apparent neuroprotective effects in animal models of diffuse axonal injury. However, the clinical efficacy of mild hypothermia is controversial. Thus, a noninvasive, accurate, and objective technique is urgently required to verify the effect of mild hypothermia in diffuse axonal injury and its prognosis. Fractional anisotropy values in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantitatively reflect the consistency of nerve fibers after brain damage, where higher values generally indicate less damage to nerve fibers. Therefore, Guojie Jing ...
Emotional children's testimonies are judged as more credible
2014-03-31
In an experimental legal psychology study, two young actors (one girl and one boy) portrayed victims in a mock-police investigation. They were questioned by the police about how they had been harassed by older schoolmates. The police interviews were videotaped in two versions: In one version the children appeared in a neutral manner but in the other version, the children showed clear signs of distress, as they sobbed and hesitated before answering the police officers' questions.
The films were later shown and assessed by law students that were familiar with the Supreme ...
Nano-paper filter removes viruses
2014-03-31
Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University have developed a paper filter, which can remove virus particles with the efficiency matching that of the best industrial virus filters. The paper filter consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers, directly derived from nature.
The research was carried out in collaboration with virologists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/Swedish National Veterinary Institute and is published in the Advanced Healthcare Materials journal.
Virus particles are very peculiar objects- tiny (about ...
CAMH researcher discovers 2 new genes linked to intellectual disability
2014-03-31
(Toronto) March 31, 2014 – Researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have discovered two new genes linked to intellectual disability, according to two research studies published concurrently this month in the journals Human Genetics and Human Molecular Genetics.
"Both studies give clues to the different pathways involved in normal neurodevelopment," says CAMH Senior Scientist Dr. John Vincent, who heads the MiND (Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development) Laboratory in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH. "We are building up a ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Geologists rewrite textbooks with new insights from the bottom of the Grand Canyon
MSU researcher develops promising new genetic breast cancer model
McCombs announces 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and rising stars
Stalling a disease that could annihilate banana production is a high-return investment in Colombia
Measurements from ‘lost’ Seaglider offer new insights into Antarctic ice melting
Grant to support new research to address alcohol-related partner violence among sexual minorities
Biodiversity change amidst disappearing human traditions
New approaches to synthesize compounds for pharmaceutical research
Cohesion through resilient democratic communities
UC Santa Cruz chemists discover new process to make biodiesel production easier, less energy intensive
MD Anderson launches Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation to deliver transformational new therapies
New quantum encoding methods slash circuit complexity in machine learning
New research promises an unprecedented look at how psychosocial stress affects military service members’ heart health
Faster measurement of response to antibiotic treatment in sepsis patients using Dimeric HNL
Cleveland Clinic announces updated findings in preventive breast cancer vaccine study
Intergenerational effects of adversity on mind-body health: Pathways through the gut-brain axis
Watch this elephant turn a hose into a sophisticated showering tool
Chimpanzees perform better on challenging computer tasks when they have an audience
New medical AI tool identifies more cases of long COVID from patient health records
Heat waves and adverse health events among dually eligible individuals 65 years and older
Catastrophic health expenditures for in-state and out-of-state abortion care
State divorce laws, reproductive care policies, and pregnancy-associated homicide rates
Emerging roles of high-mobility group box-1 in liver disease
Exploring the systematic anticancer mechanism in selected medicinal plants
University of Cincinnati researchers pen editorial analyzing present, future of emergency consent in stroke trials
Scarlet Macaw parents ‘play favorites,’ purposefully neglect younger chicks
One gene provides diagnoses for 30 patients whose condition was unexplained for years
Current practice and emerging endoscopic technology in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer
Decoding 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13: A multifaceted perspective on its role in hepatic steatosis and associated disorders
Key pathway leading to neurodegeneration in early stages of ALS identified
[Press-News.org] Scientists discover a number of novel genetic defects which cause oesophageal cancerLatest findings by a team of international scientists led by Singapore-based researchers reveal the genomic landscape of oesophageal squamous carcinoma