Cancer and embryonic genes similar

Source: United Press International
Posted: July 3, 2006

Summary:

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have discovered that lung cancer cells and developing lung cells in embryos turn many of the same genes on and off. They also say the genes involved can tell doctors who will survive.

The researchers examined gene activity in 17 samples of normal human lung tissue and 186 human lung adenocarcinomas. They then compared it with the gene activity that occurs during normal embryonic lung development in mice.

They discovered that gene expression in normal human lung tissue resembled gene expression seen late in lung development in mice. Tumors with late-development gene expression had the best prognoses, and tumors with gene expression typical of very early lung development had shorter survival times.

Commentary: Hopefully this finding will provide researchers with new strategies for earlier detection and effective treatment of lung as well as other forms of cancer.