Researchers funded by the Canadian Cancer Society have made a very promising discovery in regards to the most common form of childhood cancer- medulloblastoma. The researchers, led by Dr. Michael Taylor a paediatric neurosurgeon from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, have uncovered a family of eight genes that are mutated in children suffering from medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant primary brain tumour that originates in the cerebellum. Although around sixty percent of children suffering from the genetic dysfunction now survive at least five years, due to the severity of treatment methods such as; invasive surgery, radiation and chemotherapy on the child’s developing and growing brain, they are more often than not left with debilitating physical and neurological disabilities.
Over two hundred samples of the tumour were taken from children around the world and analysed by the team. The results concluded that unlike what was previously thought, the tumour was not a result of inherited genes but instead from a random error in the gene family responsible for turning off growth-promoting genes in the brain. When the eight genes are functioning correctly their role is to produce a protein which tells the brain to stop growing. However when one of the genes is mutated they do not know when to stop the process leading to as Dr. Taylor puts it ‘stuck in a state of perpetual adolescence’, ‘dividing and dividing, until eventually they form a brain tumour. When healthy, the genes make a protein that causes the DNA to wind up super tight said Taylor. This process normally turns off growth-promoting genes when the brain has reached its full potential. However when the mutated genes are present, the DNA fails to be tightly wound, so therefore the growth genes are not shut off in the brain
Drugs are already being developed that counteract these types of proteins. The hope is that the drugs may be adapted and used effectively to treat medulloblastomas, ultimately reducing the toxic effects that current treatments cause on the developing brain.
. 2009, ‘Genetic research homes in on cause of childhood brain tumour’, The Canadian Press, 8 March. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5juqEkiV58lup7JMk9AzUA-tJ3djA [15/03/2009].
Unknown. 2009, ‘Gene Mutations That Cause Childhood Brain Cancer Identified’, ScienceDaily, 9 March. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090308142249.htm [15/03/2009].
Favaro, A. 2009, ‘Discovery made in childhood brain cancer fight’, CTV News, 8 March. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090306/medullobastoma_090308/20090308?hub=Health [15/03/2009].
Images:
CTV News 2009 http://www.ctv.ca/mar/photo.html?pname=http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20090308/450_cancer_gene_09038.jpg&win_width=695.0&description=Canadian researchers are a step closer to unraveling the mystery of the most common form of childhood brain cancer.&slug=medullobastoma_090308
Unknown. 2009, ‘Gene Mutations That Cause Childhood Brain Cancer Identified’, ScienceDaily, 9 March. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090308142249.htm [15/03/2009].
Favaro, A. 2009, ‘Discovery made in childhood brain cancer fight’, CTV News, 8 March. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090306/medullobastoma_090308/20090308?hub=Health [15/03/2009].
Images:
CTV News 2009 http://www.ctv.ca/mar/photo.html?pname=http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20090308/450_cancer_gene_09038.jpg&win_width=695.0&description=Canadian researchers are a step closer to unraveling the mystery of the most common form of childhood brain cancer.&slug=medullobastoma_090308
