Scientists hope to create new cancer drugs after uncovering how genes can become resistant to treatment
Findings could be a breakthrough in finding a cure for ovarian cancer
SCIENTISTS hope to develop new treatments to fight ovarian cancer after discovering how genes become resistant to many drugs.
A gene called ABCB1, known to increase resistance to chemotherapy drug paclitaxel in ovarian cancers, also causes resistance to other treatments, researchers at the University of Dundee found.
They now hope to develop tests to spot drug resistance more easily.
Dr Gillian Smith, who led the research, said: "Drug resistance is a major complication for many ovarian cancer patients."
Meanwhile, American scientists, have found that breast cancer drugs, known as aromatase inhibitors, change a tumour’s DNA, explaining why some patients become resistant to treatment.
The drugs protect women with the most common form of breast cancer - known as 'oestrogen positive' - which affects 40,000 women in the UK.
This treatment is commonly given to post-menopausal patients and destroys tumours by reducing the body's hormone levels.
But some tumours then become resistant and continue to grow and spread.
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The new study, shows breast tumours evolve in response to the therapy and analysis of a single sample is inadequate for deciding on the best treatment.
Professor Elaine Mardis, of the University of Washington, said: "These changes may be important for deciding how best to treat a patient after the surgical removal of the tumour."