Gene Identified As DNA Protector

U.S. researchers say they’ve determined a single gene may function as a previously unidentified tumor suppressor.

The scientists from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas say they believe the gene plays a pivotal role, launching two DNA damage detection and repair pathways in the human genome.

Writing in the advance online edition of the journal Cancer Cell, the researchers say the gene — called BRIT1 — is under-expressed in human ovarian, breast and prostate cancer cell lines.

Defects in BRIT1 seem to be a key pathological alteration in cancer initiation and progression, the authors note, and further understanding of its function may contribute to novel, therapeutic approaches to cancer.

Disruption of BRIT1 function abolishes DNA damage responses and leads to genomic instability, said senior author Shiaw-Yih Lin, an assistant professor of molecular therapeutics.

Genomic instability fuels the initiation, growth and spread of cancer.