About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Child Health News

Genetic Basis To Childhood Brain Cancer Identified

by Aruna on March 10, 2009 at 10:48 AM Child Health News

Scientists have identified certain genetic mutations, the most common of childhood brain cancers, to play a key role in medulloblastoma.

Related Links

The team led by Dr. Michael Taylor, a pediatric brain surgeon at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, has found eight similar genes linked to the childhood brain cancer.

"When these eight genes are functioning normally, we believe their role is to make a protein which tells the developing brain when it's time to stop growing. But when the genes are mutated, the brain may continue to grow out of control, leading to cancer," Nature magazine quoted Dr. Taylor as saying.

"Drugs are already being developed that target these types of proteins.

"Our hope is that some of these drugs may be adapted and used effectively to treat medulloblastomas," he added.

During the study, the researchers looked at more than 200 tumor samples.

Paul Northcott, a PhD student in Dr Taylor's lab, analyzed and interpreted all the data over a period of 3 1/2 years.

"We've learned more from this study about the genetic basis of this disease than from any other previous study," said Northcott.

The gene mutations they found had not been suspected as culprits in cancer formation.

The findings have been published in journal Nature Genetics.

Source-ANI
ARU/L

Ecstasy Benefits Anxiety-Disorder Patients

Water Extracted From English Channel, Sold To Americans As A Blocked Nose Remedy

More News on: Parkinsons Disease, Brain, Tattoos A Body Art, Brain Facts, Ataxia, Cancer, Genetics and Stem Cells, Cancer and Homeopathy, Parkinsons Disease Surgical Treatment, Cancer Facts

Comment & Contribute

Be the first to comment!
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Medwonders Health Network

Support Groups Members Discussions

Total Members - 54932
Support Groups - 445

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

RSBY to Provide Health Insurance for 66,000 J&K Families

Same-sex Couples in US can Now Access Health Insurance

Children With Sleep Apnea May Benefit From PAP Therapy

Russia Alarmed Over Soaring Teenage Suicides

Study Provides Evidence of Malaria's Impact on Fetal Growth

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

Quiz on Cancer
Looking for information on cancer? Go through medindia's Cancer quiz.

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

Cancer

Complete Medindia Resources

News Categories:


»	Turmeric May Help Slow Prostate Tumor Growth

»	Terminally Ill Cancer Patients Often Delay Discussing End-of-Life Care With Physicians

»	Breast Cancer and Pregnancy: New Research

»	Fasting Weakens Cancer in Mice

»	Key to Personalized Cancer Therapy - Metabolic Profiles
More Cancer News

Child Health Related News
»	Children With Sleep Apnea May Benefit From PAP Therapy	»	Autism Risk in Offspring Influenced by Age of Both Mom and Dad
»	Risk of Cardiac Events in Youth Not Increased by Stimulant Treatment for ADHD	»	PAP Therapy Benefits Kids
»	Link Between Child Abuse and Psychosomatic Symptoms	»	European Psychologists Voice Concerns Over New DSM Criteria
»	Meningococcal Vaccine Does Not Hamper Efficacy of Other Routine Infant Vaccines	»	Elementary School Student Access to Food in Vending Machines and Other Food Outlets, Surveyed

Read More >>

Accident and Trauma Care Support Group	Acupuncture Support Group	Albinism / Hypopigmentation / Albinos Support Group
Alcohol abuse / Alcohol dependence / Alcoholism Support Group	Aromatherapy Support Group	Avian Influenza / Bird Flu Support Group
Ayurveda Support Group	Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Support Group	Birth Defects - Metabolic Defects Support Group

Genetic Basis To Childhood Brain Cancer Identified

Medwonders Health Network

Child Health Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories