The London Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) partnered with European and US Scientists to study 30,000 participants, 12,496 with glioma and 18,190 without glioma. The study was geared at finding changes in DNA associated with the most prevalent form of brain cancer, gliomas. The study combined data from six previous studies to form a ‘meta-analysis’ which identified 13 new genetic errors, adding to the 13 previously identified genetic errors associated with Brain Cancer.
THE DIESEASE
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40% of all brain tumors are gliomas
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80% of malignant brain tumors in American adults are gliomas
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4% survival rate according the National Brain Tumor Society
THE FINDINGS
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Revealed 13 new genetic errors associated with the risk of developing glioma
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Errors increased risk from 15% to 33%
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Genetic Errors affected the following:
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Nerve cell division
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DNA repair
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Cell Cycle Control
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Protein Production
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Inflammation
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Genes with genetic association to glioma and other cancers:
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p53, EGFR, and the genes TERT and RTEL1 which function to protect the ends of chromosomes.
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gene HEATR3 increases the risk of glioblastoma – a particularly aggressive type of glioma with an average survival of only 10–15 months after diagnosis – by 18%
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THE POTENTIAL
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There is no current way to reliably detect the disease early.
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This study could:
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Help predict those most at risk
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Help detect disease earlier
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Help determine effective treatments to the disease
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