EFN

Professor Mike Stratton of the Cancer Genome Project has made a remarkable discovery. He and his team have unlocked the code for lung and skin cancer. These are two of the most common cancers in the world.

Researchers say most of the mutations can be traced to tobacco smoke or ultraviolet (UV) light, meaning lung and skin cancers are largely preventable. By mapping the genetic codes for lung and skin cancers, researchers say that better blood tests and other diagnostic methods can also be developed and ultimately detecting the caner in its earliest stage.

A close comparison of the healthy cell with the cancer cell revealed the exact location where the dangerous mutations had taken place. The researchers found more than 23,000 mutations of the lung cancer genome. This breaks down to one mutation per 15 cigarettes, an alarming statistic for cigarette smokers. The melanoma genome had more than 33,000 mutations. The melanoma study involved sequencing the genomes of a malignant melanoma and a lymphoblastoid cell line from the same person. Doctors can use this information to identify tumors earlier, with a simple blood test.

The mutations are our body’s effort to combat the harmful chemicals released into our body from cigarette smoke or harmful UV rays. The results of this study will eventually lead to the development of new drugs that will treat cancers more effectively. Several other countries are working on solving genetic codes of other deadly cancers.