Unexpected discovery reveals mechanism behind brain tumor development
When researchers at Lund University investigated how UM171, a molecule used to make blood stem cells multiply, works, they made an unexpected connection. The results provide new insights into how one of the most common malignant brain tumors in children could be treated in the future. Their research is published in the journal Cancer Gene Therapy.
Researchers at Lund University made an unexpected discovery while studying UM171, a molecule used to increase blood stem cell production. The study, published in Cancer Gene Therapy, reveals how this synthetic molecule, developed by Université de Montréal researchers, works by exploiting a protein called KBTBD4. This leads to the breakdown of a crucial cell structure called CoREST, which is also affected by mutations in the KBTBD4 gene found in a subgroup of aggressive brain tumors in children.
Despite the different causes, the result is the same – the breakdown of the CoREST structure. Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, is impacted by this phenomenon, affecting around 15-20 children in Sweden annually. The discovery highlights the potential for repurposing existing drugs, such as HDAC inhibitors, which can counteract the effects of KBTBD4 mutations in medulloblastoma.
The research provides valuable insights into the development of these tumors and offers a promising avenue for future treatments.
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