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There is nothing more personal to us than our genetic information. It’s the code our bodies follow, but, sometimes, there are faults inside it. These faults, or mutations, can cause cells to grow out of control…

Genetic mutations can build up over time as we age. In most cases, these won’t cause any harm, but certain mutations can set a cell on the path to cancer. Genetic mutations can also occur as a result of lifestyle and environmental factors, and some mutations can be inherited, although this is rare. Only around five to ten in every 100 cancers are linked to an inherited faulty gene.

One of the best ways to diagnose cancer earlier and improve treatment options is to understand the genetic forces behind the disease. This is just one of the many areas of the pioneering research made possible by gifts in Wills to Cancer Research UK. The charity has played a part in the progress made so far, with one in two people now surviving their cancer for at least ten years in the UK. And more specifically, it has supported the discovery of a new treatment for cancer caused by a particular gene mutation. By leaving a gift in your Will, you can help Cancer Research UK in its mission, and bring forward the day when all cancers can be cured.

What are gene mutations?

Faults in the BRCA genes are an example of inherited gene mutations (BRCA stands for BReast CAncer gene). Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The BRCA genes are vital as they stop the cells in our body growing and dividing out of control – doctors call these tumour suppressor genes.

Both men and women can have a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. People who inherit faulty versions of these genes have an increased risk of developing different types of cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Researchers think that around 70 in every 100 women with a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will develop breast cancer by the age of 80, while up to ten in every 100 men with a faulty BRCA2 will develop breast cancer.

However, scientists supported by Cancer Research UK have identified a new class of targeted cancer drugs that offer the potential to treat patients with tumours that have faulty copies of the BRCA cancer genes.

New targeted treatment

The drugs, known as POLQ inhibitors, specifically kill cancer cells with mutations in the BRCA genes, while leaving the healthy cells unharmed. Crucially, they are effective against cancer cells that have become resistant to existing treatments.

Researchers are already planning to test the new drug class in upcoming clinical trials. If the trials are successful, POLQ inhibitors could enter the clinic as a new approach to treating a range of cancers with BRCA mutations. This would save lives and give families more time with their loved ones.

Your vital role

People who have pledged gifts in their Wills to Cancer Research UK are vital to funding this type of breakthrough. Every step towards beating cancer relies on support from the public. In fact, over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses working tirelessly to treat and beat cancer are supported by Cancer Research UK.

The charity is the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world, and the only one researching over 200 cancer types. Gifts in Wills fund a third of Cancer Research UK’s research, so will accelerate this progress to save more lives.

By pledging a gift in your Will, you will help Cancer Research UK plan and invest in future research projects with huge potential – just like the work into new treatments for cancer caused by gene mutations – and make an impact that will be felt for generations to come.