From the first moment my wife discovered she had breast cancer, there was a deafening silence from the men I know. Even ones whose wives, mothers or girlfriends had breast cancer seemed to have received a gag order from some Central Cancer Command and did little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known reason, I started this blog…
Every month, I’ll be highlighting breast cancer research that is going on RIGHT NOW! Harvested from different websites, journals and podcasts, I’ll translate them into understandable English and share them with you. Today: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130206131122.htm
This discovery comes from just down the road from where we live!
According to the University of Minnesota researchers, they have discovered an enzyme that is likely responsible for the majority of breast cancers.
I thought I’d talked about enzymes before, but it appears that I HAVEN’T!
Enzymes are gigantic molecules made in the human body. They are, by what atoms are in them and how the molecule is shaped, able to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. They catalyze (or cause) reactions in the body that make everything from digesting food to replicating DNA happen. They are used outside the human body to make everything from sour dough bread to blue cheese.
Enzymes are both powerful and everywhere!
This earth-shaking discovery about breast cancer came about while the UofM researchers were working on AIDS! While poking around HIV, they discovered that there are certain enzymes that give cells a way to fight off the virus. The “name” of this enzyme was incredibly creative (as are most things researchers discover and name (BTW – I’ve been a science teacher for decades and consider myself a science geek. I know researchers and have nothing but respect for them. But in naming stuff…whew! A little creativity would go a long way here!)) is APOBEC3.
While breaking the gene for APOBEC3 down and identifying how it works, they came across a single gene called APOBEC3B. They found that this gene is ALWAYS overexpressed in breast cancer cells.
In genes, “expression” means “…the process by which information…is used in the synthesis [building] of…the macromolecular machinery for life.” In other words, the genetic expression tells a cell what to make and how much it should produce. A cell will produce lots of this enzyme – and while it protects some cells from HIV-1…it has the unexpected consequence of causing other cells to mutate, giving rise to breast cancer cells.
While EVERYONE all around is expressing cautious optimism, those that know are urging caution and patience. While they have indeed detected this gene, no one is certain what to do with it. Discussion ranges from being able to use APOBEC3B sensitive chemicals to devise a screening test to detect breast cancer earlier than ever before so that TREATMENT can begin immediately – to finding chemicals that might create a sort of “sunscreen” for cells that would block APOBEC3B from causing the mutations that lead to uncontrolled cell growth and breast lumps or metastasizing of cancer cells.
Obviously the research continues; less obviously, it may lead to both screening and treatment that will benefit the NEXT generation of potential breast cancer victims!
Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_expression, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Protein_APOBEC3G_PDB_2JYW.png/250px-Protein_APOBEC3G_PDB_2JYW.png
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