D Monday, October 19, 2009 METRO Genetic link to cancer spreadBy MARGARET DAVIS THE genes that spread breast cancer to other parts of the body have been identified by scientists, increasing hope that a treatment can be found to stop the disease moving around. A team from Cancer Research and Breast Cancer Campaign examined a chemical called Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF). They found TGF activated genes which caused cancer cells to move from the breast into another part of the body, where the cells resumed growing, research published in the journal Nature Cell Biology found. Lead author of the study, Dr Erik Sahai, said: Weve used cutting-edge filming techniques to find the set of genes that are behind the spread of breast cancer. Little is known about the way cancer cells spread through the body because its incredibly difficult to study. In a me- dium-sized tumour there could be a billion cells, and only a small proportion might break away and spread. Dr Helen George, head of science information at Can- cer Research UK, said: This crucial research unravels for the first time how single breast cancer cells leave a tumour and start to move around the body something that until now has not been fully understood. Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at Breast Cancer Campaign, said: This groundbreaking research is a major step forward in understanding how breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, the main cause of death from this disease. fashion fix Dublin socialite Tara Sinnott and reality TV star Bianca Gascoigne were at the Fashion Extravaganza 2009, in aid of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association Picture: Joe Keogh index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html