Breakthrough in bladder cancer cure

An international team claims that recognising the genetic mutations that make bladder cancer cells different than their healthy neighbours may pave the way for early screenings and new treatments for the disease, Nature Genetics journal said. In addition, the mutations the team found are similar to those recently discovered in a host of other cancers, implying a possible common denominator in cause of cancer in general.

Specifically, in 59 per cent of 97 patients with urothelial carcinoma, the team found mutations in genes responsible for chromatin remodelling — the process of packaging DNA for easy duplication during cell division. “The discovery of mutation in the UTX gene and seven similar chromatin remodelling genes is a major step towards genetic testing and treatment of bladder cancer,” said Dan Theodorescu of the University of Colorado.
The research also provides the first-ever overview of the genetic basis of urothelial bladder cancer.