Cancer research: A link between chronic infection and cancer has been identified by a leading world expert on cancer.
Dr Michael Karin, professor of pharmacology at the School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, has found a single gene (called NF-kappa B) plays a key role in both infection and malignant tumour growth.
A link between inflammation and cancer has been suspected for a long time and certain bacterial and viral infections are major risk factors for certain types of cancer such as colorectal and cervical cancer. However, until now the molecular nature (ie biochemical changes to the body's cells) has been unclear.
Dr Karin's research has found that the gene NF-kappa B is activated in response to infection and inflammation and switches on a series of other genes that cause the cell to grow while turning off a second set of genes that cause the cell to die. Over time, this process encourages the growth of malignant tumours.
Dr Karin presented his findings at the Irish Cancer Society lecture at the Irish Association for Cancer Research conference in Galway at the weekend.
Commenting on the significance of these findings, Dr Bill Watson, scientific secretary at the Irish Association for Cancer Research, said: "It is now clear that this gene is central to the development of many different types of cancer and should be the focus for designing new therapies.
"What is most significant is that by identifying genes important in the development of cancer, we can target the disease at an earlier stage and prevent the cancer occurring in the first place.
"This NF-kappa B gene is such a target and lots of agents can be developed to inhibit it," Dr Watson said.
Researchers working on cancer prevention are particularly interested in the role of both dietary supplements and specific molecular agents (taken as a medicines) in the future treatment of chronic infections associated with specific cancers.
Another paper presented at the Irish Association for Cancer Research looked at how soya supplements may be used to prevent prostate cancer. Interestingly, soya also works as an inhibitor of the NF-kappa B gene and offers a potential treatment option where inflammation of the prostate gland preceeds prostate cancer.
The Irish Association for Cancer Research conference is the annual gathering of cancer researchers in Ireland. Approximately 300 participants attended this year's event in the Galway Bay Hotel, which was the largest to date.
"The event has become the forum for exchange of ideas in the Irish cancer research community," said Prof Mark Lawler, president of the Irish Association for Cancer Research.
For further information, see www.ia-cr.ie
