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New drug may prevent hereditary cancer from developing

Posted Feb 29, 2008 at 11:06AM by Isaac C. Listed in: Diseases, Genetics Tags: UK, Newcastle University, DNA
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'Revolutionary' drug that prevents breast cancer created - Image 1


There's a higher chance for people to acquire cancer when their family has a history of it. Finding out you have cancer is one thing, but just waiting for it to happen is something else. But a new drug may prevent hereditary cancer from ever having to develop.

Scientists in the UK's Newcastle University are now testing a new drug that targets hereditary forms of breast or ovarian cancer. The drug works by disabling a key DNA repair mechanism in cancer cells.

People's DNA strands normally have two strand-break mechanisms to repair itself when cells receive damage. However, some people who inherit genetic faults may have only one of these mechanisms. Because of this, they have a higher risk of developing cancer.

What happens is that cells will continue to multiply uncontrollably. What the new drug does is disable this mechanism, so DNA strands will no longer be able to "repair" itself, and this will kill the cancer cells.

Before the drug, women with hereditary forms of cancer are given the same treatment as those who develop it. The new drug will hopefully give hereditary patients a more specific form of treatment. The drug trial will last for approximately 18 months.

[Via Newcastle University] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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