|
September 15th, 2005
A team of scientists from John Hopkins are to participate in
a project to develop a test to determine a person’s risk of developing colon cancer. The team, along with undisclosed
other scientists are to receive a $2.25 million, five-year grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation for work on the
project.
The impetus for the test is a gene called insulin-like growth factor
2 (IGF-2). Studies have shown that there is a link to that gene and the development of colon cancer. One of the leaders
of the project, Andrew Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins explained further, "If everything works out -- if IGF-2 status
is tied to colon cancer risk in people and the blood test is workable -- then IGF-2 status could be the colon cancer equivalent
of cholesterol levels as a risk factor for heart disease. We've never had a broad molecular screening tool like that for any
cancer."
|
