‘Dark matter’ discovery could alter cancer treatment

Researchers have discovered more about the mysterious role of epigenetics, the study of how genes change, in controlling the way cancers develop.

Research from the Institute of Cancer Research suggests it could alter the way cancer is detected and treated, and could lead to new forms of tests for the disease which would help tailor treatments.

Epigenetics is the study of how an individual’s environment and behaviour can cause changes that affect the way their genes work. Epigenetics change as a person ages, and in response to where and how they live.

Epigenetics does not alter the DNA code, but can control access to genes, and is increasingly seen as playing an important role in the development of cancer.

Professor Trevor Graham, director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research, said “We’ve unveiled an extra level of control for how cancers behave – something we liken to cancer’s ‘dark matter’.”

He added that there can be “tangles in lines of DNA” as they fold up in each cell and this can change which genes are read, and that the position of the tangles can be very important in determining how cancers behave.

“It’s not going to change clinical care tomorrow, but could be an avenue for developing new therapies.

“By testing for both genetic and epigenetic changes, we could, potentially, much more accurately predict which treatments will work best for a particular person’s cancer.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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