LONDON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- British scientists have found a new way to identify defects that could eventually lead to cancer, BBC report on Wednesday.

    Researchers at the British Institute of Food Research looked at the chemical makeup of "normal" cells lining the large intestine of bowel cancer patients, and found slight differences in cell chemicals which could in theory render that person more vulnerable to cancer.

    According to the researchers, poor diet and lifestyle may prime these chemicals to activate cancer-causing genes, although there could be other reasons for the chemical changes.

    Every cell in our body carries, in its DNA, all the genetic code for the creation and day-to-day running of our entire bodies. However, in each cell type, various genes are switched on or off to allow it to perform its functions.

    The researchers said one of the ways this happens is by an "epigenetic code", a set of chemical tags attached to the DNA which label which genes should be on, or "expressed," and which should be turned off, or "silenced." The development of cancer cells also relies on mistakes in this epigenetic code, switching on genes that cause abnormal growth, while silencing genes that would normally stop it.

    Professor Ian Johnson, who led the research, was quoted as saying: "We looked at changes in 18 genes that play a role in the very earliest stages of colorectal cancer, and detected clear chemical differences in these genes in otherwise normal tissue in cancer patients. This represents a new way to identify defects that could eventually lead to cancer."

    The study found that "normal" gut cells from people with bowel cancer contain "abnormal" DNA regulation patterns, which according to the researchers may be used to detect cancer early.

    However, the researchers said these changes could also be a response to already having cancer or to cancer treatment, and more studies will be needed to confirm this.