Rearrangements of Multifunctional Genes Cause Cancer

A thesis presented by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that several genes lie in the tumor diseases are involved in fundamental processes in the cell, this may be the cause that tumors arise early in life affect children and young people. The “FET” genes have been the main problem. They are in the form known as “fusion genes” in these tumors; they changed form into unusual fusion proteins which transform normal cells to cancer cells.

Human body has many specialized cells such as fat cells and nerve cells. Cancer arises when something is wrong in the process when those stem cells formed, and mature along different development paths. Scientists believe that the activity of FET fall as the cells grow, therefore those genes have an important impact on the early stages of cell maturation. When these genes contain FET arise, the maturation paths become blocked, thus a cancer cell can multiply in an uncontrolled behavior. Normally, it requires damage to different genes before cancer cells build up, however, FET genes are involved in normal cells processes, and scientists believe that in rearranged form, they can affect many control systems preventing a normal cell becoming a cancer cell. This gives rise to development of cancer and is the reason that tumors with FET fusion genes are often found in children and young people.

Thomas Chou(42054151)

Original article can be found at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090310120355.htm