Scientists have identified a family of genes responsible for the growth of a spectrum of hard-to-treat brain tumours, known as gliomas. “With these new genetic findings, our group of researchers plan to develop targeted therapeutics that we hope will one day be used to treat patients with high-grade brain tumours and increase their survival,” said lead author Joshua Breunig, a research scientist in the Brain Programme at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute in the U.S.
Mutation combinations “Any given tumour can harbour a variety of different combinations of mutations,” said Moise Danielpour, director of the Paediatric Neurosurgery Programme and the Centre for Paediatric Neurosciences in the Maxine Dunitz Children’s Health Centre.
“Despite advances in radiation and chemotherapy, there are currently no effective curative regimens for treatment for these diverse tumours,” Danielpour said.
Researchers first modelled high-grade brain tumours from resident stem cells inside the brain, using a cutting-edge method of rapid modelling that can create up to five distinct tumour models within 45 minutes. After modelling high-grade brain tumours, researchers identified the Ets family of genes as contributors to tumours. The Ets factors regulate the behaviour of tumour cells by controlling expression of genes necessary for tumour growth. When expression of the Ets genes is blocked, researchers can identify and strategise novel therapies.
