Canadian research that led to the discovery of a specific gene mutation — Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase or NTRK gene fusion — has allowed a first-of-its kind cancer treatment to be created by pharmaceutical company Bayer and approved for use by Health Canada.
A gene mutation is the result of a mistake or alteration in a normal DNA sequence or gene structure that can cause myriad of health problems.
“NTRK gene fusion is a mutation that occurs when a ‘break’ happens in DNA and the NTRK gene is relocated to another part of the DNA molecule, finding itself ‘fused’ to another gene that would not normally be beside it,” said Dr. David Malkin, an oncologist at Toronto’s SickKids hospital, in an email to CTV News.ca Tuesday.
“The new NTRK fusion gene then does not function properly and the cell grows and divides uncontrollably…which can lead to cancer,” Malkin said.
Dr. Poul Sorensen, a B.C. pathologist, is credited with the discovery of the molecular and cellular pathways characterizing NTRK genes in the late ‘90s that allowed further development into a brand new cancer treatment.
“By using a molecular-based approach to studying a cancerous tumour, we were able to identify the NTRK gene fusion as the driver of what is now known as TRK fusion cancer,” said Sorensen in a release. “This validated the idea of studying rare tumours and represented a new approach to cancer drugs and their regulation with the drug intended for a wide variety of cancers.”
NTRK gene fusion is found in both children and adults with many kinds of cancers, such as thyroid, lung and sarcoma, but the cause of the mutation is not known, said Malkin.
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