Scientists closer to finding cure for cancer afflicting kids | Health - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Scientists closer to finding cure for cancer afflicting kids

IANS | By, Sydney
Jan 05, 2009 02:54 PM IST

Researchers have edged closer to finding a potential cure for the commonest tumour afflicting young children, Michelle Haber AM, executive director, CCIA, said the findings were an exciting development towards an eventual cure for this childhood cancer.

Researchers have edged closer to finding a potential cure for the commonest tumour afflicting young children, Michelle Haber AM, executive director, Children's Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA), said the findings were an exciting development towards an eventual cure for this childhood cancer.

HT Image
HT Image

Researchers have known that the presence of multiple copies of the cancer-associated gene, MYCN, in neuroblastoma tumours is a powerful predictor of death in this disease.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

It has also been known that MYCN drives the expression of many other genes including one in particular called ODC1.

"Patients whose tumours carry multiple copies of the MYCN gene have a particularly poor prognosis and new therapies are urgently needed," said Haber.

"Our findings indicate that over expression of the ODC1 gene contributes to the aggressive biology of this tumour and poor clinical outcomes, said a CCIA release.

Using a lab model of neuroblastoma, researchers tested whether inhibiting ODC1 activity with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a drug known to suppress ODC1 function, would improve treatment of neuroblastoma, when used in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.

"We found that the combined drug treatment prolonged tumour-free survival compared with chemotherapeutic drugs alone, suggesting that targeting ODC1 for suppression is a potentially valuable therapeutic approach," said Haber.

The study was published in Cancer Research.

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On