Exome sequencing of hepatocellular carcinoma
Nature Genetics
August 8, 2011
Sequencing of the exomes — the coding region of the genome — of individuals with hepatocelullar carcinoma (HCC) is reported this week in Nature Genetics.
HCC is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide, and carries a high mortality rate. Infection with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, as well as environmental factors including alcohol consumption, are known risk factors for HCC.
Kenneth Kinzler and colleagues sequenced the exomes of ten individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) associated HCC. They identified inactivating mutations in the ARID2 gene and establish this as an HCC tumor suppressor gene. They examine additional cases, and found that ARID2 is mutated in 18.2% of individuals in their sample with HCV associated HCC.
doi: 10.1038/ng.903
Research highlights
-
Jun 24
Palaeontology: It sucked to be the prey of ancient cephalopodsScientific Reports
-
Jun 24
Sport science: New wearable sensor to measure neck strain may detect potential concussionScientific Reports
-
Jun 23
Scientific community: Women credited less than men in scientific paper authorshipNature
-
Jun 17
Health technology: New cost-effective smartphone test for middle ear functionCommunications Medicine
-
Jun 17
Conservation: Feral cats pushing critically endangered marsupial further towards extinctionScientific Reports
-
Jun 16
Microbiology: DNA analysis indicates origins of the Black DeathNature