Discovery of gene mutation could be cancer breakthrough

Researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute and Eli Lilly & Co. have discovered what bioscience experts say may be a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. Their findings are being published this week in the online version of the prestigious journal Nature. Working together, the scientists discovered a recurring mutation of the AKT1 gene in breast, colorectal and ovarian cancers. This could have a huge impact on cancer treatment and drug development, said Jeff Trent, scientific director at TGen. "This has remarkably the potential to be one of the most important studies in cancer in the last decade," Trent said. "This is going to be one of those models where a genetic change -- recognized, proven and validated -- is going to have the possibility for important clinical use in an accelerated period of time... Whole on "bizjournals.com":[ http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/07/02/daily19.html]

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