114 gene variants causing oral cancer identified

NT Correspondent

In what is claimed to be path-breaking research, a city-based government institute in collaboration with HCG, has identified 114 genetic variants which cause oral cancer in humans. The study has also revealed key genetic signatures that can predict survival in oral cancer patients with over 90 per cent accuracy.

Addressing a news conference held here on Friday in connection with World Cancer Day, Minister for IT/ BT, Science and Technology, Dr.C.N.Ashwatha Narayana said the research was conducted jointly by IBAB ( Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology)- an institute set up by Department of IT/BT, GoKand research doctors from HCG, using the state of the art Genomics facility located at IBAB. The study made extensive use of Advanced Machine Learning and Bioinformatics.

“Though oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in the country, this was the first time such an extensive research was carried out. The work has already been acknowledged by international bodies like the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The study report has also been published in a highly acclaimed medical journal,” the minister said.

He said the analysis of mutations gave out a list of unique genes associated with 114 novel variants, of which 35 were oncogenes, 11 were tumor suppressors, and 2 DNA damage repair genes. The research would help in incell-targeted personalised treatment, he said.