Sanger Institute in bowel cancer genes 'breakthrough'

A discovery which could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of bowel cancer has been made by scientists at the Sanger Institute in Cambridgeshire.

More than 40,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. It is the second highest cause of death from cancer with more than 15,000 deaths attributed to it in 2010.

At the Sanger Institute researchers have discovered genetic changes cause a certain type of bowel cancer.

That could result in more effective, personalised treatments for patients in the future.