PETALING JAYA: A group of Malaysian scientists from a non-profit cancer research outfit have made a major breakthrough that could help in the treatment of patients suffering from oral cancer.
The team from Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM) were able to identify the genes which cause oral cancer cells to grow.
“Our scientists recently completed a study to search for genetic vulnerabilities in
head and neck cancers.
“Using this technology, we were able to sift through tens of thousands of genes to identify the handful that causes oral cancer cells to grow,” said Dr Cheong Sok Ching, the senior group leader of the head and neck cancer research team at the organisation.
She added that this discovery would allow for the development of targeted treatment which kills the cancer cells while sparing normal healthy cells.
According to CRM, the study was conducted on a unique collection of oral cancer cell lines, the majority of which came from Malaysian oral cancer patients.
Oral cancer is a type of head and neck cancer and the sixth most common cancer in the world. It is highly associated with the practice of tobacco smoking, betel quid chewing and excessive alcohol consumption.
Oral cancer is more common in Asia and is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men in India. Oral cancer accounts for 11% of cancer deaths in Southeast Asia, compared with only 4% of cancer deaths globally.
Symptoms of oral cancer include ulcers that do not heal for a long time, white patches inside the mouth that do not vanish when rubbed, and loose teeth.
CRM’s study which has been published in the eLife Journal was a collaboration with experts from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK.
Funding for the research came from the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund, Medical Research Council UK, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Yayasan Sime Darby and Yayasan Petronas. - FMT
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