Scientists Link Aging Gene to Blood Cancer

(Image source: National Cancer Institute) BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN Scientists say they've now linked a type of blood cancer to the gene that controls aging. 
A new study published in the journal Nature Genetics found a genetic variant in the gene responsible for the aging process could raise the likelihood of developing multiple myeloma by as much as 50 percent. (Via WNAC) 
 The gene, known as TERC, acts as a cell's internal clock. In those with a variant of this gene, cancer cells ignore the aging trigger and divide uncontrollably in the bone marrow. (Via Mayo Clinic)  Myeloma can affect a person's immune system and kidneys, along with causing severe joint pain and brittle bones. (Via NBC) Each year, some 4,700 people are diagnosed with myeloma. About 30 percent of those patients die within a year. (Via KJFX) One of the study's authors said: "We know cancer often seems to ignore the usual controls over aging and cell death, and it will be fascinating to explore whether in blood cancers that is a result of a direct genetic lin." (Via U.S. News & World Report)  But a geneticist cautions carrying the variant is only a risk factor, telling Everyday Health: "Having a variation doesn't [mean] that you're 100 percent going to get cancer ... But we don't know for sure how much higher your risk is." The researchers hope they can use their findings to identify new sources of treatment for myeloma.