Scientists have discovered a new cancer gene, which they have labeled “UTX,” that is common to many cancers and underlies our cells’ most basic genetic regulation.

Unlike genes previously implicated in cancer development, UTX regulates the activity of other genes rather than producing a protein or chemical product itself. As a result, although UTX falls under the broad umbrella of “tumor suppressor” genes, it represents an altogether new genetic mechanism for cancer development.

In its normal state, UTX helps restrain cell growth and suppress tumor formation, but if it becomes non-functional through mutation, UTX-regulated genes may remain in a permanent “on” position. The result is accelerated cell growth and potential cancer.

UTX is a sex-linked gene that resides on the X chromosome. Consequently, females contain two UTX gene copies in their cells because they inherit two X chromosomes, but males’ cells only harbor one UTX copy because they only possess one X chromosome (the other being a Y chromosome). For UTX to cause cancer in females, independent mutations must occur in each of the two copies. Rarely, individuals may inherit UTX mutations from their parents, but generally UTX mutations arise spontaneously later in life.

Of all cancers the researchers sampled, the UTX mutation occurred most commonly in multiple myeloma. It resided in 10 percent of myeloma tumors studied.

The new UTX discovery could hold great potential for better understanding cancer development. By analyzing this new genetic mechanism, researchers may discover new avenues for both preventing and treating myeloma and other cancers.

For more information, see the full article in the March issue of Nature Genetics.