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Colon Cancer Discovery Made Scientists have figured out how a
particular protein
influences the development of colon cancer, a finding
that
could lead to more targeted treatments.
Researchers at the University of California, San
Francisco,
say a protein called beta catenin nudges colon cells toward
uncontrollable cell growth, which leads to cancer. The
beta
catenin protein creates another protein called cyclin D1,
which prompts cells to duplicate their own DNA, in
preparation of cell division.
Normally, a molecular "sentinel" called a
retinoblastoma
helps keep colon cells from growing out of control, but
scientists say the beta catenin protein knows how to
trick
the retinoblastoma.
This discovery ties into recent research in which
scientists found that when a gene responsible for
suppressing tumor growth mutates, it leads to activation
of
the beta catenin protein.
Beta catenin also plays a role in the development
of cancer
of the prostate, gastric system, skin and liver.
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