Breakthrough science research finds info on development of leukemia

 

[caption id="attachment_10896" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Symptoms of Leukemia"][/caption]

Editor - Leukemia is a complex form of cancer, with some types aggressive, especially some found in children.  Now scientists have found new mechanisms behind the development of this cancer.

In a report today in the online edition of Nature Immunology the research is outlined that show that mice missing two key genes develop an aggressive form of leukemia similar to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, the most common form of Leukemia in children.  Without these genes, the mice are unable to produce what are called "silencer" protections, which noramally regulate the activity of other genes to ensure the development of a healthy individual.

This research is described in a cancer research materials from UK resources and discusses how cells grow and multiply is controlled by a set of instructions stored by the DNA inside the cell’s nucleus and are then copied into a type of body messengers that can deliver instructions for the production of proteins which control cell behavior.  This research is said to show for the first time that ’silencer’ proteins acting directly on specific mRNAs also provide critical control against cancer. It demonstrates the significance of regulation at the post-transcriptional level (the destruction and inactivation of mRNA) and reveals that defects in this regulation lead to the development of malignancy. 

Scientists involved in this new research believe this new knowledge may pave the way for new medicines and therapeutic strategies to tackle cancer.

Dr Lesley Walker, Director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK said, "Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is the most common form of leukaemia in children but it also occurs in adults. It can be difficult to treat because cancer cells spread throughout the body so surgery is not an option. This exciting work, finding how the control of Notch 1 levels can lead to leukaemia in mice, could provide scientists with important new leads for treatments"