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May29

Two Biomarker Genes May Predict Cancerous Anal Lesions


DRRAM,HIV /AIDS,HEPATITIS ,SEX DISEASES & WEAKNESS expert,New Delhi,India, profdrram@gmail.com,+917838059592,+919832025033,ON WHATSAPP 

Anal cancer numbers are growing in women, men who have sex with men, and people with HIV; these stats call for a less invasive, and inexpensive way to diagnose anal lesions. Now, researchers at Queen Mary University of London have identified two biomarker genes that can accurately indicate whether a patient's lesions will progress to anal cancer.

The study, published in Oncotarget, found all of the anal cancers showed the presence of specific epigenetic methylation markers on the patients' EPB41L3 gene — a tumor suppressor gene — and on certain regions of their viral HPV genome. In other words, the researchers found specific genetic markers in the patients' epigenetics, which describes the naturally-occurring chemical "tags" on genes that control whether or not they are switched on. Here, the team developed a test, based on the patient's epigenetics, to identify those with the highest risk of anal cancer.

        This is important because current diagnosis methods are often uncomfortable and painful. For example, full biopsies are painful, and cytology — taking a small sample of cells — can bring issues since lesions can be hidden, and can cause different interpretations of results. Anoscopy, where the anal canal is examined using a high resolution magnifying instrument, is invasive, expensive, complicated, and can lead to subjective results.

      This means many people are undergoing these invasive and expensive procedures unnecessarily, which prompted Lorincz and her team to examine anal biopsy specimens for genetic markers in cases of anal cancer. A total of 148 patients in London, including 116 men, most of whom have sex with men, were included in the study.

    After discovering epigenetic testing worked as a diagnostic tool, the researchers were able to differentiate between those at risk, and those not at risk. This will help make sure anoscopies and laser or chemical surgery is only given to those who need it. If this testing method is developed, doctors would need to take a small sample of cells from the anal canal via a swab, and then send the sample to a lab for epigenetic analysis.

But, before a test is developed, the researchers admit these findings need to be replicated with a larger sample size across the UK, and repeated using swab samples, rather than biopsies. This study highlights an interesting comparison: just as there's a link between changes to cell DNA and cervical cancer, changes to DNA in anal cells could suggest the presence of anal cancer.



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