PRINCETON, N.J., Oct 12, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- U.S. scientists said they invented a method to detect when cells turn cancerous that could aid in developing more effective treatments.

The new method, invented by Olga Troyanskaya and colleagues at Princeton University, analyzes all genes in a cell, looking for abnormalities in chromosomes that indicate it has turned cancerous.

The technique relies on a combination of genetics, computer science and statistics to rapidly search chromosomes for deletions and additions of DNA. The Princeton researchers already have applied the technique to human breast cancer cells and made some interesting discoveries. For example, certain immune system genes are deleted in breast cancer cells.

The method could prove useful for developing cancer treatments because it may give scientists a better picture of the cause of certain cancers and thus targets of attack that could reverse or cure tumors. In some cases, Troyanskaya said, certain genes thought to have been activated or deactivated might actually turn out to have been added or deleted from the DNA.

The research will appear in a forthcoming issue of the journal Bioinformatics.

• More news on Cancer
• More news on Genes and Gene Therapy

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• Cancer
• Genes and Gene Therapy