Vancouver, BC – Could colorectal cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Canada, be caused by a virus or bacteria? Two local researchers funded by Genome BC believe some cases may be, and are developing new technologies to uncover the infectious agents that might cause the cancer. There is promising evidence that cancers caused by infectious agents could ultimately be prevented by vaccines or anti-microbial agents.
Dr. Richard Moore and Dr. Robert Holt from Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency (the GSC) believe colorectal cancer, which is responsible for the deaths of 9,100 Canadians each year, is the best place to explore the link between infectious agents (viruses and bacteria) and cancer. Because of the gut’s exposure to the environment through the digestive process, the link between infectious agents and cancers has been found in some stomach and liver cancers. Researchers believe there are additional cancers being caused by infectious agents.
Moore and Holt are extracting genetic material, with the consent of research participants, from colorectal cancer cells biopsies, then decoding the DNA sequence of every gene that is active in the tumour. By comparing sequence information from tumour and non-tumour tissues, they hope to find genes recognizable as viral or bacterial that are present only in tumours.
“We know of several viruses that cause cancer and together these are responsible for about 20% of cancers worldwide, but this may just be the tip of the iceberg,” says Dr. Holt. “With colorectal cancer, we will be looking at pathogens in the gut and sequence them to see which ones tend to be associated with tumours. That will give us leads to uncover which pathogens might be causing the cancers.”
The project is being funded by Genome BC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the BC Clinical Genomics Network. “Cancer is a promising area where genomics can make a significant positive impact to the healthcare system in BC,” says Dr. Alan Winter, President and CEO of Genome BC. “These innovative genomics techniques are transforming the way the medical community thinks about diagnosing and treating cancer.”
Prior to new developments in genomics, this type of research was impossible. “We couldn’t culture these infectious agents in our labs so we couldn’t learn much about them,” says Dr. Holt. With state-of-the-art sequencing technology at the GSC, and the reference sequence of the human genome, researchers can quickly and cost effectively sequence biopsy material and identify potential pathogens.
The impact of this research will lead to targeted treatment of infectious agents, like a vaccine, before they can cause cancer. “Ideally we want to be able to prevent colorectal cancer with a simple vaccination, just like cervical cancer,” says Dr. Moore. “Even if that is not possible, our work could lead to treatments that only target the virus and the cancer, providing an alternative to chemotherapy which attacks healthy cells as well.”
Moore and Holt are part of a larger global research community that is looking at the human microbiome, the community of organisms that live in our gut, noses, mouth, skins and genital tract. This type of research could impact many other diseases where infectious agents may play a role, in particular autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, arthritis and irritable bowel disease.
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About Genome British Columbia:
Genome British Columbia is a catalyst for the life sciences cluster on Canada’s West Coast, and manages a cumulative portfolio of over $450M in technology platforms and research projects. Working with governments, academia and industry across sectors such as forestry, fisheries, agriculture, environment, bioenergy, mining and human health, the goal of the organization is to generate social and economic benefits for British Columbia and Canada.
About the BC Cancer Agency:
The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. For more information, visit www.bccancer.ca.
Contact:
Jenny Boon
Communications Specialist, Genome BC
778-327-8374 or jboon@genomebc.ca
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BC researchers investigate link between cancers and viruses
