 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Discovery of a genetic marker could improve treatment of an aggressive liver cancer in children.
Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver cancer found in children. In a recent study on mice, researchers found a specific genetic signature can help identify two HB tumor subclasses, which reflect early and late phases of prenatal liver development. This subclass identification can allow doctors to better predict disease outcome.
Text Continues Below
"At present, few studies have addressed whether intrinsic biological differences between tumors impact HB prognosis," senior study author Marie-Annick Buendia, M.D., Ph.D., from the Oncogenesis and Molecular Virology Unit at the Pasteur Institute and Inserm Unit in Paris, France, was quoted as saying. "Moreover, new treatments are urgently needed for advanced stage tumors, and better understanding of HB pathobiology is a prerequisite for developing targeted therapies."
Researchers also found highly proliferating, early stage tumors had some characteristics associated with stem cells. By activating Myc, a stem cell marker often over expressed in cancer, seemed to play a key role in these tumor types.
Dr. Buendia said their findings could be applied to improve clinical management of pediatric liver cancer and help develop treatment strategies.
SOURCE: Cancer Cell, 2008
Sign up for a free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs called First to Know by clicking here.
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/.
|
.gif)
