Giving Compass Take:

·  According to Futurity, researchers at the National University of Singapore have discovered that a certain protein can lead to inflammation that promotes the growth of tumors. 

·  How can this discovery help in cancer prevention and research?

·  Read the Giving Compass guide on cancer research for donors.  

Sudhakar Jha, an assistant professor and principal investigator at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at the National University of Singapore, and his team found that TIP60 protein, a known cancer suppressor for breast and colorectal tumors, works with another protein, called BRD4, to suppress the expression of a group of genes called endogenous retroviral elements (ERVs).

Also known as “jumping genes” in tissues, ERVs are capable of jumping across the genome during their replication. They can alter the sequences of other genes that encode proteins, and even result in mutations or changes in the genetic sequence. ERVs can also activate tissue inflammation that supports tumor growth.

TIP60 expression is greatly reduced in different tumor types, including breast, colorectal, and human papillomavirus-induced cervical cancer.

Read the full article about cancer research by the National University of Singapore at Futurity.