Researchers looking at a large sample of primary liver cancer samples and liver cancer cell lines were able to identify fibroblast growth factorA substance that stimulates cell division. Growth factors are usually small proteins or steroid hormones. They may be secreted by the same cells on which they act or by cells that reside in a different part of the body than the target cells. Some examples of growth factors include estrogen, a growth factor for breast cells, and VEGF, a growth factor that causes the development of blood vessels. Several different anti-cancer treatments are designed to inhibit the activity of growth factors. 19 (FGF19) as a geneA stretch of DNA that leads to the production of an RNA. The RNA is produced during the process of transcription. This RNA can be used to guide the formation of a protein via translation or can be used directly in the cell. that was frequently present in too many copies. Abnormal copying of genes (gene amplificationAlso: gene amplification. An abnormal process in which many copies of the same chromosome region are produced via DNA replication. The result can be a small 'microsatellite' chromosome or a region of DNA within a chromosome with many contiguous copies of a small set of genes. ) is common in many cancer types, but this gene has not previously been shown to be involved in liver cancer in this way. Working with a neighboring gene (CCND1), the FGF19 gene seems to be extremely important in liver cancer. AntibodiesAntibodies are proteins produced by a type of white blood cell (B cells or B lymphocytes). Antibodies are able to stick very tightly to specific targets. Antibodies are currently being used as anti-cancer drugs (i.e. Herceptin). targeted agains the proteinOne of the four basic types of biomolecule. Proteins are polymers made up of strings of amino acids. Proteins serve many functions in organisms including transport of molecules, structure, cell adhesion and as signaling molecules such as hormones. Many transcription factors, including p53 and Rb are proteins. were able to block growth and development of tumors by cells containing too much FGF19. The genetic alteration, or amplification, of this region of DNAAbbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. Composed of very long strings of nucleotides, which are abbreviated as A, C, G and T. DNA is the storage form of our genetic material. All of the instructions for the production of proteins are encoded in our DNA. was also identified as a possible way to identify cancers that would respond to anti-FGF19 treatment.
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