In a significant study from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore, researchers believe that they may have discovered a new way to treat gastric cancer. This is the fourth most common form of cancer in Singapore and forms as a cluster of various types of cancer, some of which are caused by inflammation or bacteria. In a study which involved 203 patients, researchers analysed the tissues of both healthy people and those suffering with the cancer to determine any differences in the tissue – they found that certain form of the disease undergo a process known as methylation, which can turn genes on or off without actually changing them.
The gastric cancers form a subgroup which cause dangerous levels of methylation which makes up around a third of all cases of cancer – not only do these cases tend to be younger in age, but they also have a lower rate of survival. Scientists have found that gastric cancer is a conglomerate of various diseases, not just a solo infection as it was once thought. Each of these diseases has its own underlying biology and key features, but it was noted that the affected genes found in younger patients were more responsive to treatments that target methylation – this offers new hope for gastric cancer patients in terms of effective treatments.
At present, patients with cancer are treated with a mix of surgery, radiotherapy and drugs. The patterns found in methylation-affected genes could help doctors diagnose this disease early, which could lower the risk of untreatable cases. You should be aware of the symptoms of cancer, particularly if there is a history of it in your family, so as to spot the disease early. If you’re concerned about any symptoms you think you may have, speak to your GP as soon as possible to determine if you’re at risk.
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