Dr Andy Futreal, co-leader of the CGP, said: “UTX is an im

Dr Andy Futreal, co-leader of the CGP, said: “UTX is an important component of the transcriptional control machinery – it influences some of the most fundamental mechanisms controlling gene activity in our cells. “Unlike many cancer genes, UTX does not appear to be directly involved in cell division or cell death but in basic gene regulation and shows the depths to which cancers will plumb in order to get themselves ready to go.” In the massive DNA sequencing study, the team found rare mutations of the UTX gene in clear cell renal cancer – a type of kidney cancer.