Breast cancer and oncogenes

Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that are involved in making the cells differentiate and divide. When these genes are mutated, are called oncogenes. Proto-oncogenes involved in breast cancer, which usually lead to more cell division through cell cycle go faster and faster. Are involved in cell division pushing harder, stronger and faster.

One of the proto-oncogene is linked to epidermal growth factor receptor. This receptor plays an importantrole at certain times of the life cycle, including puberty, when great changes are taking place with the body's growth, with a protein known as epidermal growth factor functions to promote cell growth. This protein binds a growth factor receptor and signal the cell to grow. When the proto-oncogene receptor is expressed, is not waiting for the epidermal growth factor receptor to tell him to grow. Instead, the cells begin to grow independently, such as getting stuck in the "ON"position.

Another type of epidermal growth factor receptor is a subtype, the growth factor receptor 2. This receptor is known as HER-2/neu oncogene. The nature of the genetic modification that HER-2/neu in breast cancer is known as reinforcement. Instead of a single copy at cell division, the cell makes many copies of this gene, approximately ten to sixty times. Overexpression of the gene or protein can be measured in an extrafemale cancers by examining the tumor tissue is excised. From the Her-2/neu oncogene encodes a growth factor receptor, the signaling functions in cells to grow faster and faster, although it is not involved in the invasiveness of cancer. Approximately 70-80 percent of breast precancer are more an expression of HER-2/neu oncogene. The tumor cells are contained in the breast ducts, but are programmed to grow much faster, because the expression above this oncogene. Although Her-2/neu oncogene has been identified in breast cancer research is also done to see if it is also involved in other cancers such as lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.

For breast cancer to have an invasive nature, more than one genetic modification. As long as it is an expression of HER-2/neu oncogene, cancer is confined to> Breast channel. If you require other genetic changes, which induces cancer cells from the ductal region or to make new blood vessels (angiogenesis), it can spread. If the patient has cancer and invasive cancer tumors change accelerated, it is even worse. People with both of these genetic changes have a worse prognosis than those with only one type of change alone. Cancer is not onlyexcessive proliferation of cancer cells, but also to invade, spread and grow new blood vessels in the breast.

One of the fascinating things that have happened in recent years is that there is now an antibody in patients exceed the HER-2/neu receptor, may be administered intravenously in breast cancer. It 's a rather unique mechanism. It just gives too many cells with the HER-2/neu receptor, and not normal people, so that whileHer-2/neu antagonizes cells, leaving other cells unaffected. Unlike chemotherapy, in which case most dividing cells are destroyed, it is a targeted therapy. Until now, treatment is only used in metastatic breast cancer, but it has implications for the disease is not widespread.

Visit : Cardio Treadmill