Researchers have identified a gene mutation that may contribute to certain cancers.Although the gene does not seem to have as great an effect as other established cancer genes, such as BRCA 1 and 2 in breast cancer, it may be present in a greater number of people, the scientists said.The gene may be implicated in such cancers as chronic myeloid leukemia, as well as thyroid, colorectal, breast, lung or early stage pancreatic tumors."We discovered a gene that represents a new class of tumor suppressors. The alternation might be much more widespread than BRCA1 or 2 but have much less effect on the development of cancer,” said senior study author Dr. Carlo M. Croce. He is chairman of the department of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics at Ohio State University and director of the human cancer genetics program at the university’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.The study was led by scientists at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, who worked with an international team of researchers. The findings appear in the April 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
