New research denies involvement of MELK genes as sole cause of cancer

Two students from Sheltzer and Stony Brook University Chris Giuliano and Ann Lin have rejected the view that the gene called Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase as the sole cause for the development of cancer cells in the human body.

Both researchers performed a genomic analysis of the tumors surgically removed from cancer patients. They concentrated on the group of genes whose activity levels are co-related with low-patients survival rates.

They have further planned to use a gene-editing technology called CRISPR to eliminate the genes from different cancer cell lines one at a time to see if they could kill the cells.

This technology would help to find similar genes like MELK which may have a greater role in the proliferation of the cancer cells in the human body.