A "patchwork" of genetic faults in a cervical tumour can mean a woman faces an increased risk of her treatment failing, British researchers report today.
Scientists have found large numbers of genetic mutations in some tumours – and say this may increase the chances of the cancer developing resistance to treatment.
They say the findings help explain why cervical cancer can be difficult to treat.
And they pose a challenge to identify the gene faults which emerge during the growth of a tumour and may make it drug resistant.
The findings are reported in the British Journal of Cancer by scientists from a research centre in Cambridge, UK.
Researcher Dr James Brenton said: "We’ve discovered that the patchwork of gene faults in the tumours of cervical cancer patients changes throughout the course of treatment.
"And the more varied the patchwork at the start of treatment, the more likely it is that resistant cells are already present before chemotherapy begins that could go on to re-grow the tumour."
The findings come from a detailed analysis of six patients with cervical cancer.
Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, which funds the Cambridge Research Institute, said: "Resistance to treatment is a huge problem in cervical cancer and many women initially respond well to treatment, only to relapse later.
"Studying how the genetic makeup of the tumour changes in response to treatment should lead to a better understanding of resistance to treatment and how it might be overcome."
Intra-tumour genetic heterogeneity and poor chemoradiotherapy response in cervical cancer. Cooke S.L. et al. British Journal of Cancer January 19 2011
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