Cáceres, 2 mar (EFE).-researchers from the University of Oviedo and the Hospital ClÃnico of Barcelona direct a research focused on determining the sequence of the genome of 500 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia, some works which found that 15 per cent of patients share the same mutations in the genome.
The Professor of biochemistry of the University of Oviedo, Carlos López OtÃn, explained to Efe in Cáceres, despite the diversity of mutations causing leukemia, “there are reasons for hope”.
, Explained that since the coincidences in the mutations could be inhibitors able to block the abnormal activity in these genes and “uncontrolled” activities that generate this type of cancer.
Lopez has today made these statements in the Centre of minimum invasion “Jesús Usón” before receiving the Prize II research “Eladio Viñuela” in 2011 life sciences, a prize which has received for his career research, focused for more than 20 years in the analysis of disease such as cancer processes.
As explained, one of the conclusions of his study alludes to the “extraordinary” diversity of mutations that suffers from the genome of the cells of those suffering from leukaemia, around 1,000 mutations, while other types of cancers, including melanoma, can be more than 20,000 mutations.
Has nevertheless pointed out that patients with “recurring” mutations, those who share mutations, become the preferred therapeutic interventions public.
These works are part of a “great international consortium” in which Spanish scientists will provide the genome sequence of 500 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia, while globally it aims to determine the tumor genomes from 25,000 cancer patients around the world, with the most frequent tumor types.
As the expert explained, from the University of Oviedo was trying to “understand” the molecular logic of the disease, the reasons that cause and the molecular mechanisms behind them to develop therapeutic strategies.
The teacher has also clarified that on the 5 and 7 percent of cancer cases are hereditary, while more than 90 percent are not hereditary, although genetic.
In this sense, has explained that the vast majority of cancers arise from damage to genes, but they are caused over the life of the sick, not by their parents.
The work of the genome that directs Carlos López also allow this technology to be applied to cases of rare diseases, such as accelerated aging.
This disease affects patients who may have a life expectancy of around 15 years, which suffer a few mutations “very concrete” in their genes, which makes eight years the appearance of the patient an 80 person.
“The clock of life is accelerating in an extraordinary way and all processes occur at an extraordinary speed, even if the birth is normal,” explained Lopez, which indicates that the challenge for these diseases is to find therapies to stop mutations in the genome, that are mostly identified.
These investigations, explained, also allow pilot approaching the problem of normal aging, affecting everyone.
