AP researchers search DNA markers causing cancer

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 9: City based human genetic researchers in collaboration with American scientists embarked upon finding genetically triggering factors causing the dreaded disease cancer in humans. They are in search of finding the DNA markers in the human beings that cause cancer. The researchers say that knowing these markers will enable a person to take preventive measures before the disease affect the person. The research was taken up under the ‘Human genome diversity project’. “ While the Human Genome Project (HGP) is to map and then sequence the human genome, Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) the new version is interested in human biodiversity” says Andhra University college of science and technology principal, Prof P Veeraraju. The researchers at Andhra University in collaboration with the radiation oncologist at the New York Medical College Dr C Murthy have established a DNA lab to further the studies. They are also collecting some samples from US in this regard for their study. Prof Veeraraju said that a particular gene in human body is related to each disease. As part of the study they collected samples of woman affected with breast cancer in north Andhra. During their study the researchers found that about 5to 10 percent of all breast cancers are hereditary due to mutations in breast cancer gene but sporadic (Non inherited) breast cancer accounts for nearly 90-95 percent. The cause of breast cancer in sporadic cases might be due to methylation of promoter, which leads to silencing of gene expression, said A Vijaya Lakshmi, the human genetics researcher. Prof Raju further said that it’s a prognostic study. For example a just born baby can be detected of cancer if the baby have the common DNA markers possessed by the persons affected by the sporadic cancer. Precautionary measures can be taken right from the birth itself for that baby to curtail the disease. “Further gene based medicines can also be developed which can be used to stop the progress of the disease,” said Prof Raju. He further added that the future would be controlling these diseases at the genetic level by genetic counseling, knowing the DNA markers at early stage and using gene based medicines to totally eradicate the disease. The AU researchers will also study the genetic angle of another dreaded disease HIV/Aids after the research on cancer.