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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A chromosome region that raises the risk of neuroblastoma -- a usually deadly childhood cancer -- has been discovered.
Scientists have uncovered common DNA variations in chromosome 6 that are linked to the development of an aggressive form of neuroblastoma, which causes 15 percent of all childhood cancer fatalities. Neuroblastoma affects the peripheral nervous system and usually appears as a tumor in the chest or abdomen.
"Until now we had very few clues as to what causes neuroblastoma," John M. Maris, M.D., a pediatric oncologist who led the study at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, was quoted as saying. "Although there is much work to be done, understanding this cancer's origin provides a starting point for developing novel treatments." About half of neuroblastoma cases are not discovered until the cancer has spread throughout a patient's body, making the development of an earlier, more successful intervention critical.
"We are doing further studies to understand how these relatively common genetic changes translate into increased risk of cancer," Dr. Maris said. "Ultimately, they probably cause subtle changes in gene expression during early development, interacting with other genes yet to be discovered. This suggests that neuroblastoma has complex causes, in which a series of genetic changes may occur at different sites to combine into a 'perfect storm' that results in this cancer."
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SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine, published online May 7, 2008
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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