Scientists have discovered a new gene that causes colon cancer

Researchers at Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Institute have discovered a new gene that is essential for colon cancer growth, and found that inflammation in the external environment around tumors can promote the growth
of tumor cells.
The scientists published the findings
in the October issue of the journal Nature Communications.

This is the first time scientists have discovered that the environment surrounding colon cancer tumors can program so-called "superenhancers," a complex region of DNA with high concentrations of transcription mechanisms that control whether cells are malignant
or not.

This super-enhancer regulates the PDZK1IP1 gene, which has not previously been identified as a cancer gene
.
Once the researchers deleted PDZK1IP1, colon cancer growth slowed, suggesting that PDZK1IP1 and its super-enhancers may be targets for anti-cancer therapy
.

"Colon cancer is the third most prevalent and second deadliest cancer in the United States," said Royce Zhou, lead author of the study, an MD/doctoral student
at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
"This cancer relies on surgery, and immunotherapy revolutionizes the treatment of advanced cancers, but only works for
a small percentage of colon cancer patients.
That is why new target recognition
is very much needed.
”

This study found that super-enhancers in the tumor microenvironment are activated
by surrounding inflammation.
Inflammation allows cancer cells to survive in environments where they would otherwise not survive
.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a known risk of colon cancer; This finding could lead to a better understanding
of the mechanisms.

"What this means for most colon cancer patients is that the inflammation that occurs in the tumor contributes to the growth
of the tumor.
This underscores the importance of understanding what we can do to suppress inflammatory effects in the colon through prevention, or how diet may affect the microenvironment in the colon," said
senior author Ramon Parsons, MD, director of the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
"In terms of treatment, we have genetic evidence that targeting this gene actually suppresses tumors
.
By understanding all these different components, we will have better tools to try to prevent this disease
.
”

The discovery was made possible by a study of biovital tumor tissue and surrounding healthy tissue conducted in 15 colon cancer patients immediately after surgery
.
Mr Royce Zhou said that being able to prepare and analyze living cells allowed researchers to see the tumor microenvironment as well as the genetic and biological drivers of colon cancer
.

Dr.
Parsons adds, "We have live specimen living cells taken directly from the operating room, which allows us to immediately measure the epigenetic state
of the tumor.
Without the infrastructure of Mount Sinai, we would not have made this discovery
.
”