UF Researchers Find Gene Mutation Involved in Cancer Progression

University of Florida researchers have found mutation hot spots in a unique class of proteins that could drive cancer progression.

“There are recurrent mutations that are associated with cancer development,” said Jonathan Licht, M.D., director of the UF Health Cancer Center and study co-author. “Many of these mutations inactivate the functions of important proteins that prevent tumor formation and cause proteins to stimulate cancer growth. We wanted to know if there are mutations in other parts of the histone molecule.”

Prior research has identified mutations in proteins known as histones that lead to abnormal gene regulation in cancer cells, Licht said. Histones help package DNA in cells so DNA can be protected from stresses and compacted into chromosomes during cell division.

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