John Hopkins has made public their discovery of the cellular mechanisms that drive the growth and progression of the meningioma. The meningioma is considered the most common of brain and spinal cord tumors.
The scientists report that this discovery will lead to the creation of better drugs to fight off the cancer.
The scientists report that this discovery will lead to the creation of better drugs to fight off the cancer.
This discovery is said to identify genes to be targeted during treatment.
The basis of this is on the knowledge that two-thirds of meningioma cases, the cell mutation is in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene. This mutation releases a protein called Merlin. In turn, Merlin releases a cell called Hippo. Yes, Hippo.
The study is led by Dr. Gilson S. Baia, a research associate in the Department of Neurosurgery at John Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Baia and his team explain "that if Merlin is missing, the Hippo pathway is disrupted. In normal development, Hippo controls the size of tissues and organs in the body. It is activated when tissue needs to grow and also acts as a brake on uncontrolled growth. If disrupted, a biochemical cascade produces uncontrolled tumor growth" (Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure).
Read more about Dr. Baia and his team's discovery here:
http://abc2.org/article/researchers-determine-pathway-origin-most-common-form-brain-and-spinal-cord-tumor
Cited:
"RESEARCHERS DETERMINE PATHWAY FOR ORIGIN OF MOST COMMON FORM OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TUMOR."Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. ABC2, 15 Jun 2012. Web. 24 Aug 2012. <http://abc2.org/article/researchers-determine-pathway-origin-most-common-form-brain-and-spinal-cord-tumor>
The basis of this is on the knowledge that two-thirds of meningioma cases, the cell mutation is in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene. This mutation releases a protein called Merlin. In turn, Merlin releases a cell called Hippo. Yes, Hippo.
The study is led by Dr. Gilson S. Baia, a research associate in the Department of Neurosurgery at John Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Baia and his team explain "that if Merlin is missing, the Hippo pathway is disrupted. In normal development, Hippo controls the size of tissues and organs in the body. It is activated when tissue needs to grow and also acts as a brake on uncontrolled growth. If disrupted, a biochemical cascade produces uncontrolled tumor growth" (Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure).
Read more about Dr. Baia and his team's discovery here:
http://abc2.org/article/researchers-determine-pathway-origin-most-common-form-brain-and-spinal-cord-tumor
Cited:
"RESEARCHERS DETERMINE PATHWAY FOR ORIGIN OF MOST COMMON FORM OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TUMOR."Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. ABC2, 15 Jun 2012. Web. 24 Aug 2012. <http://abc2.org/article/researchers-determine-pathway-origin-most-common-form-brain-and-spinal-cord-tumor>