Suche
Mein Konto
The enzyme that drives medulloblastoma growth could hold the key to a future treatment
An enzyme that drives the growth of an often-fatal childhood brain tumor could hold the key to a future treatment, says a McMaster University-led study. The researchers discovered that by blocking the production of an enzyme called DHODH, they could stop the growth of MYC gene-amplified medulloblastoma in mouse models, the most aggressive subtype of this cancer. Lead author William Gwynne said that while blocking DHODH stops the cancer from spreading, healthy brain and nerve cells are spared. This avoids the after-effects of current treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy, which can affect children's brain development even if their cancer is successful...
The enzyme that drives medulloblastoma growth could hold the key to a future treatment
An enzyme that drives the growth of an often-fatal childhood brain tumor could hold the key to a future treatment, says a McMaster University-led study.
The researchers discovered that by blocking the production of an enzyme called DHODH, they could stop the growth of MYC gene-amplified medulloblastoma in mouse models, the most aggressive subtype of this cancer.
Lead author William Gwynne said that while blocking DHODH stops the cancer from spreading, healthy brain and nerve cells are spared. This avoids the aftereffects of current treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy, which can affect children's brain development even if their cancer is successfully treated.
This potential treatment route will allow us to kill the weeds but save the flower of the developing brain. This DHODH treatment target is promising, but it will take several years before we can reach the clinical trial stage. This potential new treatment, unlike current ones, will be non-toxic to the developing brain.”
William Gwynne, Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Discovery in Cancer Research
eBook Cancer Research
Compilation of the top interviews, articles and news from the last year. Download a free copy
The study was published November 10 in the journal Cancer Cell.
Gwynne said all types of medulloblastoma come from neural stem cells in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls voluntary actions such as walking, balance, coordination and speech. The cerebellum develops fully after a child is born.
He said cancer begins when cell development in the cerebellum goes wrong, but studying the causes of this dysfunction may lead to new treatments.
Common medulloblastoma symptoms include problems with gait and balance, nausea, headaches and swelling of the head.
By the time of diagnosis in children, the cancer has often spread throughout the brain and spinal fluid, particularly if it is of the MYC-amplified subtype.
Gwynne said that medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric brain tumor diagnosed in children and that brain tumors have recently overtaken leukemia as the deadliest childhood malignancy.
“Over the past two decades, we have made significant treatment advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, such that the five-year survival rate for medulloblastoma is now more than 70 percent,” Gwynne said.
“However, the approximately 30 percent of children whose cancer does not respond to currently available treatments have no other options.”
External funding for the study was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Cancer Stem Cell Program, the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, the Box Run Foundation and the Team Kelsey Foundation.
Source:
Reference:
Gwynne, W.D., et al. (2022) Cancer-selective metabolic vulnerabilities in MYC-amplified medulloblastoma. Cancer cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2022.10.009.
.