British Researchers Determine the Number of Changes It Takes for a Normal Cell to become a Cancer Cell

Dr. Ronald Klatz, President of the A4M, on Oct 20, 2017 comments, “The more research into cancer and genes the better. The entire world has been trying to find answers for decades, and with every new study and finding, we get closer to the answer for living longer and better lives.”

One of the most vigorously debated issues in health has now been solved. Researchers at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute published in the journal Cell have determined that only a few changes or mutations (between 1 and 10) can change and normal cell on the body into a cancer cell or tumor. There are many thousands of mutations in the DNA of healthy vs cancer cells, some potentiate the cancer growth, and some do not.

The scientists looked at DNA from 7,664 tumors in search of the culprits called "driver mutations," and found that as little as one aggressive mutation was needed to create testicular or thyroid cancer. Up to four changes can lead to liver or breast cancer. However as many as ten were needed to form colorectal cancer.

Dr. Peter Campbell, leader of the research claims that his is one of the first truly unbiased studies to come along and that while cancer genomes may have thousands of mutations, only a few (unknown till now) are actually guilty of morphing into cancer. Of those about 50% contained a genetic recipe capable of making cancer cells.

Dr. Nicholas McGranahan, from the Cancer Research UK and the UCL Cancer Institute feels that the evolutionary process should give researchers an advantage and that key mutation patterns are more frequent in tumor cells that in healthy cells. Finding those mutations gives everyone an advantage. Cancer cells evolve faster than others. While more research is needed into DNA and chromosomes and how tumors grow, but he feels this is a step in the right direction. 

These discoveries should allow other scientists to create medications that target the genes and genomes for treatment and maybe even a cure. Currently Jerceptin and Braf Inhibitors are being used but the researchers here hope that this will lead to much more specific drugs to attack specific differences.