CancerHealth News and Research

Breast cancer: Epigenetic marks to predict tumor

It is the new line of research to advance the diagnosis of one of the most common female tumors. A new ally in the fight against cancer not only improves the diagnosis but also the treatment, as it would apply more personalized. It is one of the ways that researchers have opened, because the epigenetic developments also contribute to the field of anti-cancer drugs.

breast cancer diagnosis

Anticipating the diagnosis of breast cancer to be able to determine the vulnerability or predisposition to breast cancer among women who identical DNA. It is the objective pursued a new line of research with epigenetics as the protagonist. A line of investigation that would allow giving very important step in the struggle against one of the most frequent tumors between the women, the breast cancer.

Epigenetics relates to chemical alterations that interfere in our genetic material, in particular in its regulatory proteins. A field that opens new possibilities and which, in the case of breast cancer diagnosis, would give a very important step to predict this type of tumor.

The researchers, but long way to go, have begun to reveal epigenetic changes and how the tumor cell used in order to adapt to environmental changes. Known so far epigenetic alterations, the chemical modifications in DNA (called methylation) and its proteins are the major cause of changes in gene expression.

Epigenetics study also identifies the response to treatment of chemotherapy. If expectations are met, this new route would not only improve treatment, but personalized treatments affect cancer patients. According to the results achieved so far, methylation of a specific gene, called BRCA1, is one of the best allies in predicting response to chemotherapy in breast cancer cases.

And the possibilities do not end here of this new line of research, as has been stressed specialists are obtaining valuable information for the design and development of new drugs against tumors. Thus, at present, there are two lines of research and related to the identification of genes associated with breast cancer, as well as the study of injury or epigenetic alterations. Alterations present in the samples of biopsy and blood and that can help in early detection, which is an essential tool to increase the chances of winning the battle against cancer.

Although the diagnosis continues to generate fear, largely by the myths that still surround the disease – medical advances are achieving great results and, above all, opening new doors to further improve diagnosis and treatment. Breast cancer can be cured. Now the challenge is to prevent its occurrence while gaining diagnosis.

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