Over 80 regions of the genome that can increase an individual’s risk of breast, prostate and ovarian cancers have been found in the largest ever study of its kind.
The research, led by scientists at the University of Cambridge and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust, could lead to new treatments, targeted screening and a greater understanding of how these diseases develop.
Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “This groundbreaking international work highlights how complex cancer is.
Hundreds, if not thousands of genes are likely to play a role in how cancers start. But by understanding why some people seem to be at a greater risk of developing cancer we can look towards an era where we can identify them and take steps to reduce their chances of getting cancer or pick up the disease in its earliest stages.”
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