Cancers start when abnormal cells grow out of control. They are often named for where they start, like lung cancer. Most cancers are due to gene changes that happen during our life. Smoking or exposure to certain chemicals can increase our chance of getting cancer. But, most of the time, Read more…
Bone marrow is the soft, inner part of the bone. Bone marrow cells form new blood cells. Changes in some of the genes in these cells may cause cancer. At this time, we are starting to learn about the gene changes that cause blood cell cancers. Researchers will use BioVU Read more…
The p53 protein, made from the TP53 gene, works to protect cells from out-of-control cell division resulting in cancer. Although p53 is associated with cancer, it belongs to a family of genes that have many roles in the body. Researchers hypothesize that other diseases may be caused by mutations in Read more…
Renal cell cancer is the most common type of kidney cancer. Kidney cancer often runs in families. If you have a close relative (a parent, sibling, or child) with kidney cancer, your chances of getting the disease are higher. One study found 4 parts of the genome (loci) linked to Read more…
Some diseases are caused by single, specific gene changes or mutations. But these kinds of mutations are very rare. Most common, complex diseases like cancer probably involve many genes. Scientists have found many common gene variants (slight differences in a gene people may have) linked to cancer. These variants occur Read more…
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death for women. By the time most women know they have it, they have less than 5 years to live. Most ovarian cancers involve the cells that make up the surface of the ovaries. We know that ovarian cancer runs in Read more…
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. These tumors often spread to the bone. Substances produced by the tumor break down bone. This causes an increase in calcium levels in the blood. This calcium increase can sometimes be the first sign of the cancer. Studies have Read more…
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. It most often occurs in men over age 65. This cancer is more common in black men than white men. Studies have found more than 30 gene changes (variants) associated with prostate cancer risk. But these variants only account Read more…
The DNA in our cells is packed into X-shaped structures called chromosomes. The bits of DNA at the end of each chromosome arm are called “telomeres.” Like those plastic tubes that protect the ends of shoelaces, telomeres protect our chromosomes. But each time a cell divides, its telomeres get a Read more…
Cancer usually kills by spreading from its original site to other parts of the body. This process is called metastasis. Past studies have found links between certain genes and cancer’s spread. Slightly different versions, or variants, of some genes may make a person’s cancer more likely to spread. In this Read more…