Lack of enzyme is linked with liver cancer

TORONTO, Jul 27, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Canadian researchers say they've determined primary liver cancer is much more likely to occur when a naturally occurring enzyme is in short supply.

The team of scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in Toronto found the likelihood of hepatoma, or primary liver cancer, increases substantially when half the normal amount of an enzyme called Plk4 is present.

Furthermore, they said 60 percent of patients with hepatoma were missing one copy of the Plk4 gene in their cancers. The genetic basis for hepatoma has not previously been extensively explored.

"Our study indicates that loss of one copy of Plk4 is a major risk factor for primary liver cancer," said Dr. Carol Swallow, a surgical oncologist at the hospital and an associate professor of surgery at the University of Toronto.

"This represents a major advance in our understanding of hepatoma at a molecular level and provides insight into who may be predisposed to this type of cancer genetically," Swallow added

The study is published in the August edition of the science journal, Nature Genetics.