Success of chemotherapy tied t...( Montreal May 7 2003 Genetics may play...)

Montreal, May 7 2003 Genetics may play a role in the success of anti-cancer therapy, according to researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital. Their study, published in today's issue of Clinical Cancer Research, shows that some colorectal cancer patients with a particular gene mutation respond much better to therapy than those without this genetic change.

"Our findings are important," says Dr. Rima Rozen acting Scientific Director of the Research Institute of the MUHC and senior author. "They demonstrate that colorectal cancer patients who have a particular genetic change, the MTHFR variant, will respond better to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy than those patients without this genetic mutation. This suggests that therapy should be individualized. Patients with the MTHFR variant should be identified and appropriate chemotherapy should be administered."

"This finding may provide hope to the 10% to 15% of colorectal cancer patients who have the MTHFR variant" says co-author Dr. Victor Cohen, oncologist at the Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital (JGH) and researcher at the JGH's Lady Davis Institute (LDI) for Medical Research. "Although these are preliminary findings, they suggest these patients will respond well to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy and consequently may have a better prognosis. Larger scale studies are needed to determine the long term consequence of having this gene variant."

"Perhaps as important, the MTHFR enzyme may be an important target to inhibit and thus sensitize the majority of patients to this chemotherapy," adds co-author Dr. Gerald Batist, oncologist at the JGH and researcher at the LDI.

Dr. Rima Rozen's laboratory is currently conducting research to evaluate MTHFR as a novel target for anti-cancer chemotherapy.

Both Dr. Batist and Dr. Co
'"/>

Contact: Christine Zeindler
christine.zeindler@muhc.mcgill.ca
514-934-1934
McGill University
7-May-2003

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. Successful progress launch paves the way for further scientific utilisation of the ISS by Europe
2. Success and single embryo transfer in IVF
3. Success of introduced Argentine ants tied to reduced genetic variation
4. Successful Green Solvent Found For Problematic Chemicals
5. University Of Pittsburgh Involved In First Successful Example Of Gene Therapy For Pain Control
6. Successful Hemophilia B Gene Therapy In Dogs May Justify Human Experiments
7. Cells From Mother Can Boost Success Of Sibling-To-Sibling Kidney Transplants
8. The Smell of Success
9. News Backgrounder: Duke Primate Center Successfully Fosters Mysterious Aye-Ayes
10. Successful Specialist Care For Cystic Fibrosis Patients From Childhood To Adulthood
11. New Treatment Successful With Hepatitis C