Scientists Identify Chromosome Linked to Colorectal Cancer

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Scientists Identify Chromosome Linked to Colorectal Cancer

NewsMax.com Wires Monday, July 9, 2007

TORONTO - Researchers at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and

Cancer Care Ontario have successfully identified a specific genetic

variation on chromosome 8 that is associated with colorectal cancer.

This is the first genetic predictor that has been identified for the most

common forms of colorectal cancer to date and may play a significant role in

how people are screened for the disease.

The study was published today in Nature Genetics reporting the work of the

Assessment of Risk for Colorectal Tumours in Canada (ARCTIC) project. The

project involved researchers from around the world including the U.S.,

France, England and Scotland who analyzed more than 100,000 genetic elements

from 10,000 people, including 2,400 Ontarians from the Ontario Familial

Colorectal Cancer Registry.

Previous research on this chromosome has linked it to other forms of cancer,

including prostate cancer, suggesting that individuals with this newly

discovered variation may be at risk for a broad spectrum of cancers.

"This discovery will lead to better understanding of colorectal cancer

biology and the cause of this disease," said Dr. Tom Hudson, co-principal

investigator and president and scientific director of the Ontario Institute

for Cancer Research. "This information can be used to identify those at risk

of colorectal cancer and direct them to screening at an earlier age."

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest form of cancer in Canada, but one

of the most preventable. Ontario has one of the highest colorectal cancer

rates in the world. In 2007, an estimated 7,800 Ontarians will be diagnosed

with colorectal cancer and 3,250 will die from the disease. If detected

early, colorectal cancer is 90% curable. According to the 2007 Cancer System

Quality Index, in the years 2004 and 2005, only 17% of Ontarians over age 50

were screened for colorectal cancer using a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).

"This breakthrough could lead to new methods of testing for colorectal

cancer," said Dr. Brent Zanke, co-principal investigator and scientist at

Cancer Care Ontario. "For example, this genetic variation could be detected

through a tool as simple as a blood test. Used as part of a screening

program, this information could help individualize screening and prevention

efforts saving lives and money."

Further studies may lead to the identification of additional common genetic

risk predictors for colorectal cancer.

The ARCTIC Genome project was generously funded by Genome Canada through the

Ontario Genomics Institute, by G