Q: In layman’s terms, what a difference does your finding concerning the role of genetic features make for cancer research worldwide?
A: Until recently people have been convinced that the vast majority of cancers occurred due to exposure to environmental features - mutagens that are attacking individuals physically, chemically and/or biologically. What has been shown in our publication is that genetic inherited background can be found not just in a small percentage of consecutive cases, but using the breast cancer model in Poland we were able to prove that genetic features are associated with almost all cancer cases. It is crucial, because we can now fight against cancer using new, potentially very powerful methods. Information about constitutional genetic changes can be very useful in more effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer diseases. If you have a female patient who is the carrier of a mutated gene called BRCA1 it is very well known that she will be resistant to one particular, very popular cancer drug. But we have also recognized for quite some time that such patients are extremely sensitive to a different drug. Based on the results of our research, you can make the best choice of available drugs based on constitutional genetic background. Genetic makeup is also important for diagnostics. Most people believe that mammography offers the most effective detection of early breast cancer. But when it comes to women with a mutated BCRA1 gene, mammography is not enough to identify early stages of cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be used in such cases instead.
Q: This sounds like great news for those who are ever likely to be screened for cancer in the future…
A: It is good news for all those people who can potentially be affected by cancer, since we have established that cancers have a genetic background. Those predisposed to certain forms of cancer owing to their genetic makeup will be able to seek tailored prevention.
Q: Can you talk about the practical implementation of your findings? A press release has just come out by Read-Gene and Selvita, two Polish companies that have launched a strategic partnership in the area of genetic background of cancer development and treatment.
A: Read-Gene based in Szczecin is a company aimed to commercialize our discoveries at the international level. The idea is to sell DNA tests all around the world, especially for people of Polish origin, because they have very similar mutations in their genes. Another aim of Read-Gene is to conduct clinical trials. If a pharmaceutical company comes up with a drug, it is important to test its effectiveness in relation to the genetic background of patients. Until now tests have been conducted on unselected cancer patients. And we know that in patients with certain gene mutations, the reaction is completely different. Finally we have some R&D projects, which potentially may put us in a position to provide new supplements and drugs for cancer patients all around the world. At the International Hereditary Cancer Centre of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin we are just scientists. We need to be supported by people in management, business, IT, legal aspects etc. Selvita provides this aspect of collaboration.
Q: Medical research worldwide means enormous budgets, so your research centre faces some really formidable competition. How was it possible then to come up with a breakthrough on such a scale in Szczecin?
A: Our activities are based not on huge investment, but on intellectual and organizational capabilities. In Poland we have one particular advantage. The level of genetic homogeneity is much higher than in Western European or American countries. Having such a model of the population it is much
easier to find rules in genetics. Additionally, the personal contribution is not to be neglected. I have worked all my life on diagnostics of tumours as a pathologist and geneticist. Classical geneticists don’t deal with oncology so much.