A senior oncologist at Hadassah Hospital says the study finds it is possible to identify a genetic mutation that raises the chances of suffering from colon or uterine cancers, allowing the prevention and/or early treatment of the cancers.
A breakthrough discovery by researchers at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem will allow early detection and possible prevention of colon and uterine cancers. According to the study, a genetic mutation related to Lynch syndrome has been shown to increase the risk of these types of cancers. The discovery of the mutation among members of certain population groups allows for a quick identification of at-risk patients.

Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem – Photo: Yoav Ari Dudkevitch
The recent study included researchers from Hadassah, the Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikva, and the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv. The results show that it is possible to identify genetic mutations, present in populations of different backgrounds in Israel, that alter the genetic material’s ability to correct its own errors, thus significantly increasing the affected person’s chances to suffer from colon or uterine cancer.
Being able to detect a mutation that is characteristic of a certain population makes identifying the syndrome much simpler and more inexpensive.
The research group, led by Dr. Yael Goldberg from the Sharett Institute of Oncology at Hadassah Hospital, said the characteristic mutation exists in Jews from various backgrounds, including European, Iranian, Afghan and Georgian.
“The study is of immense importance in the prevention and early treatment of cancer. Identifying the genetic mutation allows us to find subsets of healthy people who carry that mutation, and put them on an early prevention and observation program. Early detection of cancer is one of the most important tools in healing the deadly disease,” senior oncologist and acting director-general of Hadassah Hospital Prof. Tamar Peretz said.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=22167