According to a recent study by scientists at the University of Bath, turning off genes that cause cancer even before a baby is born is possible. The study reveals the existence of a genetic "tumor switch" that forms just hours after fertilization. This finding opens the possibility of a screening program, personalized vaccines, or even using engineering techniques on embryos to eliminate cancer risk.
Based on the university release, the study co-author Professor Tony Perry states that their work could lead to a new era in early cancer detection. The international team conducted experiments on mice and discovered that gene activity in embryos begins within four hours of sperm injection, including oncogenes that can potentially cause cancer if mutated.
mRNA vaccines for Superior Health
The scientists believe that the results are likely applicable to humans as well. Professor Perry notes that many of the factors responsible for the initiation of gene activity in embryos have been known for a long time to be major oncogenes. This is the first time a predetermined sequence of events has been established in single-cell embryos of any species. The study suggests that the development of cancer mirrors the process of embryogenesis.
The researchers combined a cutting-edge method for injecting sperm into eggs with the most recent mRNA sequencing techniques. mRNA is a chemical that transfers genetic information from DNA to a cell's protein production system. Some specialists believe that mRNA vaccines will eventually result in superior health. They have been instrumental in combating COVID-19. The tiny mRNA molecule is produced in eggs before fertilization and in embryos once the genome has been activated.
Professor Perry and the team could distinguish between the two and determine the "on a switch," which was linked to cancer and inherited from eggs. When inhibitors were applied, the growth of embryos was nearly instantly stopped, as reported by Study Finds.
The c-Myc Protein
The researchers focused on a protein called c-Myc, which is expressed in over 70% of human cancers. By blocking c-Myc, they could turn off the switch and potentially prevent future cancerous tumors. It is thought that c-Myc and other cancer genes remain inactive in eggs until they are activated by fertilization. The study supports previous research by the same group showing that gene activity in human embryos also starts at the one-cell stage.
According to study lead author Dr. Maki Asami from the University of Bath, many genes that are turned on from the start in both mouse and human one-cell embryos have comparable counterparts, and it is expected that the same oncogenic transcription factors will be involved in both species.
Professor Perry emphasized that this discovery could revolutionize the fight against cancer, as the causes of most cancers remain unknown. The research also sheds light on the mechanisms that control the beginning of mammalian development. The similarities between embryos and cancer could be leveraged in the future to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of both. The study's analysis has been released in the journal Cell Reports.
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