Research scientists have discovered seven genes that decide the fate of brain tumor patient’s survival chance. They found that these genes are helpful in predicting the aggressiveness of the disease.

The study results were published in the Journal of American Medical Association. This breakthrough may lead to accurate prediction of the survival chance of the patient and drugs to repair the faulty gene.

As brain cancer is the result hundreds of gene mutations, it is like searching for a needle in a haystack to find the culprit genes. However, researchers concentrated on the center of action leading to the growth of the tumor. The findings likened genes to Mafioso.

Dr. Markus Bredel, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, the leader of the research team found that these rogue genes have to be dealt in the same way as the crime syndicates. Strike at the top to eliminate them.

After studying the gene profiles of 500 brain tumor patients, with both gliomas and glioblastomas, the researchers zeroed in on 11 ‘hub’ genes and scores of ‘hub-interacting’ genes, interconnected by biological functions. It was found that by knowing the condition of seven genes among them, it is possible to predict the survival chances of the patient.

Bredel added that this prediction can be made from a sample of tumor and it is not foolproof.

Dr. Boris Pasche, University of Alabama, who wrote an editorial to accompany the research paper in the journal, said that the new findings give credence to the earlier research linking genes and gene pathways to glioblastomas.

The new findings explain the importance of damaged genes for survival chance, though they are just spectators. Pasche is hopeful of spotting the weakness or weaknesses of the tumor and by targeting them, a solution may be found in future.

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