Scientists have pinpointed a gene linked to more than half of all breast cancers.
The gene, NRG1 (neuregulin-1), is also thought to play a role in many bowel, prostate, ovarian and bladder tumours.
The University of Cambridge team said the breakthrough should provide "vital information" about how cancer spreads.
Experts agreed the finding, published in the journal Oncogene, could represent a very significant advance in the fight against cancer.
The Cambridge team showed that the gene - which helps to suppress the growth of cancer - is located on chromosome 8.
Cancerous cells are known often to miss part of that chromosome, and when the researchers analysed breast cancer samples they found that at least part of the key gene had often been lost.
Everybody is born with an intact NRG1 but it seems that in some cases it can become damaged - leaving the way open for cancer to thrive.
Lead researcher Dr Paul Edwards said: "I believe NRG1 could be the most important tumour suppresser gene discovery in the last 20 years as it gives us vital information about a new mechanism that causes breast cancer.Read more...
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