Better genetic cancer marker is discovered
CHICAGO, June 26 (UPI) -- U.S. cancer researchers have identified a new genetic marker that better characterizes the aggressiveness of cancer cells than do "classical" markers.
The University of Chicago scientists say levels of a small non-coding RNA molecule called let-7 appear to define different stages of cancer better than some traditional markers for tumor progression.
"There may be no human cancer that is not regulated by microRNAs," said study author Professor Marcus Peter, "and among microRNAs, let-7 appears to be a key player in preventing a cancer from becoming more aggressive.
"We found that expression levels of let-7 can discriminate more effectively between more and less advanced stages of cancers than any other microRNA," Peter added. "We suspect that loss of members of the let-7 family may be a major determinant of cancer progression."
The study appears in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
source : www.sciencedaily.com
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