Study of 12 types of cancer sheds light on how disease is inherited

Scientists found surprising links between gene mutations linked to breast cancer and other forms of the disease

( Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

A new study into 12 different types of cancer has shed light on how the disease is inherited.

The investigation is the first time that scientists have been able to pinpoint on a large scale how different genes are linked to developing the disease, as well as the mutations involved.

Researchers also found important information on how mutations associated with breast cancer are also linked to other forms of the disease.

To make their findings, researchers analysed genetic information from more than 4,000 cases of cancer from the US-government led The Cancer Genome Atlas project.

Specifically, the team compared sequencing data from a patients’ healthy tissue and their tumour. They then sequenced data from the patients’ healthy cells that contain “germline” information – which is inherited from their parents.

Researchers pinpointed germline mutations that were enriched in the tumour and "present at a high frequency," said senior author Li Ding, PhD, associate professor of medicine and assistant director of the McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University.

Lung 1 refers to Lung squamous cell carcinoma, and Lung 2 is lung adenocarcinoma. (Image: Sara Dickherber) (Sara Dickherber)

The study published in 'Nature Communications' showed that 19 per cent of ovarian cancer cases were truncated - or unable to function at all – compared with per cent of acute myeloid leukaemia cases.

Scientists were surprised to find that 11 per cent of stomach cancer cases were linked to truncated germlines – putting it on par with breast cancer.

Addressing findings around the BRCA1 and BRCA2, commonly associated with breast cancer, Dr Ling said the team found a "significant number of germline truncations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes present in tumor types [...] including stomach and prostate cancers."

"This suggests we should pay attention to the potential involvement of these two genes in other cancer types."

The team hopes that the findings will help improve genetic tests for cancer risk.