Genes responsible for brain cancer identified

Eighteen genes that propel a common and aggressive form of brain cancer in adults have been identified, says a study.

The study, carried out by researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center, was published Monday in Nature Genetics.

"Cancers rely on driver genes to remain cancers, and driver genes are the best targets for therapy," said Antonio Iavarone, professor of pathology and neurology at Columbia University Medical Center and a principal author of the study.

"Once you know the driver in a particular tumour and you hit it, the cancer collapses. We think our study has identified the vast majority of drivers in glioblastoma and, therefore, a list of the most important targets for glioblastoma drug development and the basis for personalized treatment of brain cancer."

Personalized treatment could be a reality soon for about 15 percent of glioblastoma patients, said Anna Lasorella, associate professor of paediatrics and of pathology & cell biology at CUMC, reports Science Daily.