New research out of Quebec gives hope for rare childhood cancer therapy
A joint university study has found that a pathway to a therapy program against a rare and deadly pediatric brain tumour is now possible.
The study was led by scientists from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) 's Research Institute and the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.
Due to a lack of effective treatment, the tumours—called Posterior fossa group A (PFA) ependymoma—have the highest recurrence rate and poorest prognosis of all childhood cancers.
MUHC senior scientist Dr. Nada Jabado explained that so far, the treatment available includes surgery and radiation therapy, but the cancer tends to come back.
"This is a cancer that affects very young children, infants and until the age of six and seven. Sometimes a little later, but mostly infants," said Jabado. "Close to 70 per cent will die within the first years, and up to 90 later. Some will make it, but it is rare."
The research investigated interactions between regions of the genome that are unique to PFAs. They named these predictable sections TULIPs or Type B Ultra-Long Interactions in PFAs.
"[TULIPs] are three-dimensional structures within the nucleus that are very specific to this tumour, only present in this tumour, that makes the cell keep a very undifferentiated and aggressive phenotype," said Jabado. "By understanding what keep those structures together, we could aim to provide a treatment, because if we could have them dissolve, [TULIPs] will be remove and cells will mature better and we may provide a break to those kids."
Senior and lead author of the study, Marco Gallo, said in a statement that TULIPs interact with other over long distances, like from one end of a chromosome to another, with surprising strength.
"TULIPs on different chromosomes can also converge and strongly interact with each other," said Gallo. "We also found that regions outside TULIPs appear more relaxed overall. This is important because TULIPs are linked to the cell's function."
By inhibiting specific proteins carried in TULIPs, the team witnessed "weaker interactions between TULIPs and impaired PFA cell survival," according to the statement.
It noted that their observations suggested that interactions between TULIPs "are important for PFA cell viability, opening up new potential targets for treatment."
The research started about five years ago, and for the treatment to reach clinical trials, it still might take a year or two, "and I'm being very generous," Jabado said. "The next step is to validate that if we use this inhibitor, the one that we use in the paper, on a larger set of samples, and across multiple labs and models, we're seeing similar results."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979942.1722089395!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
UPDATED Jasper wildfire largest in 100 years, expected to burn for months: Officials
Officials say the Jasper wildfire, which tore through the townsite on Wednesday, is the largest the national park has recorded in 100 years.
Wasaga Beach reacts to reports of beachgoers defecating in sand
While Wasaga Beach is known for being the longest freshwater beach in the world, it has been talked about for a different reason in recent weeks, as reports have surfaced of beachgoers defecating in the sand.
2 officers injured after armed man walks into Pickering police station
Two police officers have been injured in an interaction with a man who walked into a Pickering police station with a firearm Saturday afternoon.
Air Canada flight from Casablanca cancelled after incident involving flight attendant
Air Canada has confirmed that a Montreal-bound flight from Casablanca, Morocco, was cancelled on Friday following an incident between a flight attendant and a passenger.
'A point of no return:' Why Europe has become an epicentre for anti-tourism protests this summer
Anti-tourism protests have been sweeping across Europe this summer, with demonstrations taking place in the Netherlands, Greece, and of course, Spain.
FIFA deducts points, bans Canadian coaches in drone-spying scandal
FIFA has deducted six points from Canada in Olympic women's soccer standings and banned three coaches for one year amid a drone-spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Harris holds her first fundraiser as the likely Democratic nominee as donors open their wallets
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used her first fundraiser since becoming the Democrats' likely White House nominee to excoriate the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as determined to roll back Americans' freedoms.
Rocket attack on town in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights kills at least 11. Netanyahu hurries home
A rocket strike Saturday at a soccer field killed at least 11 children and teens, Israeli authorities said, in the deadliest strike on an Israeli target along the country's northern border since the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah began. It raised fears of a broader regional war.
What is still standing in Jasper, including the town's namesake bear statue, and what isn't
Images emerging from the town of Jasper are painting a picture of what's still standing and what isn't after wildfire tore through the community on July 24.