Scientists at the Baylor College of Medicine in the US have identified the main cause of cancer.

According to the research, the main role in this process is played by dysfunction of the TP53 gene, which is responsible for stunting and dividing the cell when it is damaged or stressed.

According to EurekAlert! referring to a study published in the journal Cell Reports, scientists studied 10,225 tissue samples that dealt with 32 types of cancer. Further, the samples were compared with the DNA of 80 thousand different mutations, information about which was compiled within 30 years of research. As a result, it was found that mutations in the gene were often observed in patients with low survival rates.

In addition to TP53, four more genes that affect patient survival were identified. It is noted that in 91% of the cancer cases analyzed in the study there were defects in both copies of the TP53 gene. The cause of these defects most often was the duplication of the first defective copy.

The authors of the study hope that the results obtained may help in the development of new treatments for cancer.