Elephant Man Disease Linked to Gene Mutation With Cancer Ties
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Scientists have found a single mutation in a gene tied to cancer that may be the cause of a rare, disfiguring condition that affected the “Elephant Man” who toured Europe in the 19th century and was the subject of a 1980 film.
Because the gene is being targeted by cancer researchers, drugs now in development may provide the first treatment for the condition, scientists said. The disease, called the Proteus syndrome, is marked by uncontrolled tissue and bone growth. It’s named for the shape-shifting god from Greek mythology, and affects fewer than 500 people globally, according to the National Institutes of Health.