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Scientists identify a single 'master' gene that seems to turn on cancer-causing action of other gene
NYNEWSDAY.COM ^ | Friday, January 21, 2005 | Delthia Ricks

Posted on 01/21/2005 4:30:24 PM PST by Main Street

Edited on 01/21/2005 4:58:27 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

A CLUE CALLED 'POKEMON'

Scientists identify a single 'master' gene that seems to turn on cancer-causing action of other errant genes

FRONT PAGE.

An international team of scientists believes it has found cancer's master switch with the discovery of a gene they dubbed ``Pokemon.''

Like the electronic game figures -- tiny monsters with bad tempers -- the cancer-triggering gene apparently instigates the misbehavior of other cancer-causing genes, leading to tumor formation.

In Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, in collaboration with teams in Japan and Britain, announced that the gene plays a key role in starting a malignancy. As a result, scientists now believe they have stumbled upon an important new target for an anti-cancer drug.

Dr. Carlos Cardon-Cardo, a molecular pathologist at the cancer center and a senior author of the research, defined Pokemon as an oncogene, which means it is capable of causing cancer. Dozens of oncogenes have been discovered over the past 25 years. But unlike the others, Cardon-Cardo said Pokemon has a governing role: It is needed for other genes to function. Eliminate Pokemon, he said, and you stop the activity of other cancer-causing genes.

``This is the master switch that interacts with other genes,'' Cardon-Cardo said. ``It acts differently than other oncogenes. Others regulate cell growth, but Pokemon impacts on critical properties of cancer cells.''

Among those key properties, Pokemon enhances a cancer cell's ability to resist aging and death. This immortalizing factor essentially endows cancer cells with a Peter Pan-like quality that renders them robust indefinitely, the very trait that makes tumors difficult to treat.

Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi, the study's lead investigator, said even though Pokemon shares a name with imaginary figures, whimsy was never intended. ``This is very serious and the name was serendipitous, pure serendipity,'' Pandolfi said. Pokemon stands for POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cancer; cancergene; gene; health; masterblaster; mastergene; pokemon; science
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
Drudge is the one creating the hysteria.

Ahhh, yes, Drudge. He's loves bringing attention to himself, I think.

101 posted on 01/21/2005 6:26:18 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

oh, I get what you are saying here now. Good point.


102 posted on 01/21/2005 7:16:43 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("War is an ugly thing, but...the decayed feeling...which thinks nothing worth war, is worse." -Mill)
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To: WVNan
My son was only 22 when he died.

I am so, so sorry.
Tragic.
God bless.
103 posted on 01/21/2005 7:42:25 PM PST by MaryFromMichigan (We childproofed our home, but they are still getting in)
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To: rwfromkansas

And I got your point, I think it was just the semantics from the Drudge site - I think. Have a good night.


104 posted on 01/21/2005 8:20:56 PM PST by RedBloodedAmerican (...........IN GOD WE TRUST..........everything else is just target practice............)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
Then you should know there are oncologists (maybe not where you worked though) that give their heart and soul in the treatment of the terminally ill and desire to see them cured or healed, not prolonged for the sake of money.

My husband likes his Hemotologist/Oncologist so much that we'll drive the 3 hours from Pennsylvania to New York to continue with him since we moved.

A big plus is that this doctor recently went to work at Sloan-Kettering where this research was done. My husbands willing to be a guinea pig for experimental drugs to treat his Leukemia. This is Great News!

105 posted on 01/21/2005 8:35:21 PM PST by katnip
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To: MaryFromMichigan; rawhide; HitmanNY; Echo Talon; freebilly; js1138; Excuse_My_Bellicosity; ...
This looks very hopeful. An that's what we all need is hope. I pray this one works out.

Also posted on the front page of the Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2005/health/0501/21/health-65940.htm

More info from another article....

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/1315.html

Pokémon gene causes cancerous cell

Posted on : 2005-01-21|

Author : Darya Zarin

News Category : Health

A new gene dubbed Pokemon (POK Erythroid Myeloid Ontogenic) has been discovered by scientists that lead normal cells to become cancerous.

Scientists believe that the new cancer-causing gene could be a molecular master switch for the disease. They said it is one of several so-called oncogenes that lead normal cells to become cancerous.

“Pokémon is a main switch in the molecular network that leads towards cancer,” said lead researcher Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi, of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

“If we could turn Pokémon off, it may block the oncogenic circuitry and stall the malignant process,” Dr. Pandolfi said.

Cancer develops when normal cells mutate and divide uncontrollably to form a tumour. When oncogenes do not functional well, they can lead normal cells to turn cancerous.

But in animal studies, the scientists discovered that the Pokémon protein interferes with the action of other proteins, including a tumour suppressor called ARF.

“What is extraordinary about this gene is that it is essential for the function of the other oncogenes. It is a main switch of this network of oncogenes that control (cell) transformation. None of the oncogenes so far identified play such a critical role,” Dr. Pandolfi explained.

Pandolfi and his team believes that the protein produced by the gene could be a new target for drug therapies against cancer which kills more than 6 million people each year.

106 posted on 01/21/2005 10:57:23 PM PST by Main Street (Stuck in traffic.)
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To: Main Street
Pokémon gene causes cancerous cell

I can see the lawsuits already. ;D

107 posted on 01/21/2005 11:25:27 PM PST by Paul C. Jesup
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To: Main Street

Does anyone have a picture of Master Gene?


108 posted on 01/21/2005 11:26:29 PM PST by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: Main Street

Yes, this is a major step forward. Some folks on this thread don't realize that we've only had the human genome for a few years. We're just now figuring out which gene works with which other genes, much less trying to figure out how to turn them on and off once we figure out their interaction. We also don't know all the ramifications of turning them on or off. However, we are getting to the nuts and bolts and with the advances in molecular technology, we are on the verge of very exciting times in science. You will start to see drugs targeted specifically towards switching genes on and off in many situations, not just cancer. Very exciting and rewarding times ahead. It will be slow, but it will mean exciting therapies for your kids and grandkids, and in some cases, for yourself.


109 posted on 01/22/2005 4:25:59 AM PST by Endeavor
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To: Main Street
Pandolfi and his team believes that the protein produced by the gene could be a new target for drug therapies against cancer which kills more than 6 million people each year.

Hopeful, indeed. And, if this may turn out to not be the case.....we pray that they make an even more amazing discovery in their research. Who knows, they could be right, or, they may find out that something which attaches itself to this gene is the culprit....the more they can eliminate, the more they can focus in the right direction....it's unbelievable how it's taking so many years to find a cure for cancer....what a devil it is!

110 posted on 01/22/2005 6:25:52 AM PST by nicmarlo
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