Discovery of Cancers Genes of Koreans

On July 23, 2002, the Center for Functional Analysis of Human Genome (CFAHG) of the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that it has discovered volumes of the genes causing stomach and liver cancers in Koreans.

Director Yoo Hyang-sook said, “We analyzed the DNAs of the Korean stomach- and liver-cancer patients’ cells. As a result, we have separated 180 genes related to the outbreak and progress (1st-4th semester) of the stomach cancer, and 1100 related to liver cancer.”

Using these genes, it is predicted, preventive measures can be developed to detect the risk of the stomach cancer.

The CFAHG, together with the 6 university hospitals and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, succeeded in separating the genes unique in cancer patients by comparing DNAs of stomach- and liver-cancer patients with those of normal people.

Especially, the team discovered for the first time that 60 kinds of genes develop differently depending on the age of a patient.

Yoo predicted, “If we exactly find out how these genes function, we will tell more accurately about how the cancer is caused and develops. We may also apply our knowledge to developing early cancer-detection DNA chips, or cancer pills and treatments “tailored for” Koreans.”

dongho@donga.com