Four genetic mutations involved in the development and evolution of biliary tract cancer, a rare and fatal liver cancer, were discovered by Romanian researchers from Fundeni Institute, in collaboration with teams from the U.S., Singapore and Thailand, announced Monday, Professor Irinel Popescu, according to Mediafax.
This discovery could help doctors diagnose tumors early, as soon as specific tests will be developed.
"This will allow us to make the genetic profile of each patient, to diagnose early, to make a prognosis of the disease and to have a personalized therapy. Now, in Romania, there are hundreds of patients with this type of cancer - liver cholangiocarcinoma which has an average survival rate of two years, " Irinel Popescu said, in a press conference on the subject.
The discovery was made possible after ten years of research in the laboratories in Bucharest, at Fundeni Institute, in Singapore and the United States. In this period there were diagnosed with biliary cancer 273 patients, including 45 Romanian and doctors examined malignant tumors from the genetic perspective.
“U.S. Prof. Dan Duda explained that "the importance of the research lies in the discovery of specific mutations of certain causes of this disease so difficult to treat, but also to identify new potential stints for a better and more personalized care.”
In the same framework, Professor Irinel Popescu spoke by comparison of the genetic mutations that promote breast cancer. "If in breast cancer, 10 percent of all cases are due to changes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and women having these mutations undergo mastectomy, with the liver things are more complicated, because the liver cannot be removed" he said.
The success of Romanian and foreign research teams was mentioned in two newspaper articles during November in the Nature magazine.
The team from the Fundeni Institute will expand their studies towards the identification of mutated genes responsible for the occurrence of pancreatic cancer.
On the other hand, Professor Popescu has announced that they will soon establish a center of excellence in translational medicine for genetics research, which will bring together all research laboratories and researchers from Romania and abroad, through an investment of 10 million.