Key pathway implicated in progression of childhood cancer found
Scientists have found a protein crucial for the immune response that appears as a key player in the progression of a devastating form of childhood leukemia called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).
Suppressing the activity of the protein kills the leukemic cells, the study shows, opening a potential avenue to new drugs that could prevent progression of the disease.
Led by Iannis Aifantis of New York University and colleagues at the Institute Municipal d’Investigacions Mediques in Barcelona, the new study discovered the protein by picking up on a bit of cross-talk, or conversation, between two unrelated genes.
“We are very excited about this discovery because small molecule drugs that block this protein are already in development.
“We plan to continue to study these inhibitors in the laboratory with the aim of evaluating the feasibility of testing such drugs in patients,” said Aifantis.
Read more here: Key pathway implicated in progression of childhood cancer found – Sci/Tech – DNA.
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About The Author
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is founder of Support for Special Needs and has been a regular contributor since its inception in May 2010. A mom to two kids with special needs, she didn't want other parents to feel what is the often isolating world of raising a child (or two!) with disabilities. Her kids had kidney transplants at the age of eight and will need liver transplants in the future as a result of ARPKD/CHF. They both have vision disorders and learning disabilities.