澳科学家发现性激素与乳腺癌关联度

Australian researchers have discovered why high levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen can lead to breast cancer.
澳大利亚科学家发现高浓度雌激素雌二醇导致乳腺癌的原因
Scientists at the University of Queensland studied a gene called MYB - known to promote cancer growth - and its reaction to high levels of oestrogen, which has been established as a risk factor for breast cancer.
昆士兰大学的科学家研究了一种名为MYB的基因及其对高浓度雌二醇的反应。该基因会促进乳腺癌发展，且已经确定为乳腺癌的一个风险因子。
The study confirmed that MYB becomes active when exposed to high levels of oestrogen, results published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show.
公布于国家科学院学报的研究结果证实MYB遇到高浓度雌二醇后产生活性。
\"We knew already that the MYB gene could be turned on by oestrogen, we knew that it was actually present in breast cancers but we didn't know if it actually played any role in the disease,\" lead researcher Professor Tom Gonda said.
首席科学家Tom Gonda教授说：“我们已经知道雌二醇会开启MYB基因，我们也知道MYB基因会在乳腺癌中出现，但是我们不清楚它对疾病有什么作用”。
\"What we've shown is it is essential for the growth of ... breast cancers.\"
“不过，我们很清楚MYB基因对乳腺癌的发展十分必须”。
Prof Gonda described the findings as \"fundamentally important\" because high levels of oestrogen have been linked to breast cancer.
Gonda教授认为这一发现“非常重要”，因为这可以将高浓度雌二醇与乳腺癌联系起来。
\"I think understanding how oestrogen acts in breast cancer is fundamentally important in understanding breast cancer,\" Prof Gonda said.
Gonda教授说：“我觉得认识雌二醇如何在乳腺癌中发挥作用对于认识乳腺癌是十分重要的”。
The scientists hope their findings will eventually lead to the creation of drugs to block the gene, which may slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells.
科学家们希望他们的发现可以最终研发出阻断该基因的药物，延缓或中止癌细胞的生长。
\"Time will tell ... but we have to expand these studies to show that what we've seen in laboratory cultures of breast cancer cells is also true in experiments on animals,\" Prof Gonda said.
Gonda教授说：“时间会告诉我们的。但是，我们必须扩大研究，看看在实验室乳腺癌细胞培养基中的结果是否会在动物上重现”。
\"If that's the case, we will continue on our track to trying to actually develop drugs or agents that will actually target MYB.\"
“如果真的是这样，我们将继续研究靶目标为MYB的药物”。
Exposure to oestrogen is caused by a number of lifestyle factors.
很多生活方式都会导致暴露于雌二醇。
Post-menopausal women are more likely to have high levels of oestrogen in localised areas like the breast, Prof Gonda said.
Gonda教授说，绝经后妇女更可能在局部出现高浓度雌二醇，尤其是乳房。
The next step of the research will take the results from experiments of cancer cells in laboratories and test them on mice.
研究的下一步是总结实验室癌细胞试验的结果并进行小鼠试验。

编译后：

澳大利亚科学家发现高浓度雌激素雌二醇导致乳腺癌的原因

《国家科学院学报》报导，昆士兰大学的科学家研究发现一种名为MYB的基因遇到高浓度雌二醇后产生活性。该基因会促进乳腺癌发展，且已经确定为乳腺癌的一个风险因子。

首席科学家Tom Gonda教授指出，虽然我们已经知道雌二醇会开启MYB基因，也知道MYB基因会在乳腺癌中出现，但是我们不清楚它对疾病有什么作用。因此这一发现非常重要，其意义在于可以将高浓度雌二醇与乳腺癌联系起来。Gonda教授还觉得，认识雌二醇如何在乳腺癌中发挥作用对于认识乳腺癌是十分重要的。

下一步，科学家们将扩大研究，看看在实验室乳腺癌细胞培养基中的结果是否会在动物上重现。如果重现，将以MYB为靶目标研究延缓或中止癌细胞生长的药物。

很多生活方式都会导致人体暴露于雌二醇。绝经后妇女在局部，尤其是乳房，出现高浓度雌二醇的可能性更大。