Canadian scientists identify cancer chromosome

Cancer Care Ontario
News Release

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Researchers at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and Cancer Care Ontario have successfully identified a specific genetic variation on chromosome 8 that is associated with colorectal cancer.

This is the first genetic predictor that has been identified for the most common forms of colorectal cancer to date and may play a significant role in how people are screened for the disease.

Previous research on this chromosome has linked it to other forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, suggesting that individuals with this newly discovered variation may be at risk for a broad spectrum of cancers.

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest form of cancer in Canada, but one of the most preventable. Ontario has one of the highest colorectal cancer rates in the world. In 2007, an estimated 7,800 Ontarians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 3,250 will die from the disease. If detected early, colorectal cancer is 90% curable. According to the 2007 Cancer System Quality Index, in the years 2004 and 2005, only 17% of Ontarians over age 50 were screened for colorectal cancer using a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).

Further studies may lead to the identification of additional common genetic risk predictors for colorectal cancer.

The ARCTIC Genome project was generously funded by Genome Canada through the Ontario Genomics Institute, by Génome Québec, the Ministère du Dévelopment Economique et Régional et de la Recherche du Québec, Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. The authors also wish to acknowledge the contribution of the high throughput genotyping team at McGill University and the Génome Québec Innovation Centre for technical genotyping assistance.

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research is a centre of excellence, moving Ontario to the forefront of discovery and innovation. It is dedicated to research in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and control of cancer. The Institute is a not-for profit corporation funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Research and Innovation. For more information, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca.

Cancer Care Ontario is the provincial agency that steers and coordinates Ontario's cancer services and prevention efforts so that fewer people get cancer and patients receive the highest quality of care.

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