Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center say there are at least 70 genetic mutations involved in the formation of colon cancer, far more than scientists previously thought.
The UT Southwestern research contradicts previous thinking that only a few mutated genes are important in the development of cancerous tumors. "The ways we've been treating patients up to now is to just go after one target when we should be going after three to four different pathways simultaneously," said Dr. Jerry W. Shay, vice chairman and professor of cell biology at UT Southwestern, "Those numbers are dead wrong."
The next step is further research to classify more accurately which genes drive cancer and which are merely passengers.
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