Researchers at the National Cancer Center say they are the first to discover a gene that suppresses cancer in its early stage.

The center on Tuesday said "SUMO," a gene directly related to chromosomal instability and known to cause cancer, is the key to suppressing the disease.

The gene adjusts the functions of various proteins that stabilize chromosomes, and a shortage could lead to cancer.

The research team said it expects the discovery to help treat cancer in the early stage and develop cures and preventive medicine for cancer and other chronic diseases.

The finding is the cover story this month of Molecular Cell magazine.