Child brain tumour breakthrough

Published on Saturday 1 November 2008 18:51

A BREAKTHROUGH by scientists could help cure deadly brain tumours in children, a new study claims.

Researchers have pinpointed a rearrangement of DNA present in around two-thirds of all cases of the most common brain tumours in five to 19-year-olds.

Described as a "significant discovery", it could provide leads for creating better treatments and make diagnosis more accurate.

Professor Peter Collins, who led the research at Cambridge University, said: "If we can diagnose exactly which type of brain tumour a child has as early as possible, the tumour is more likely to be treated successfully.

"We also hope the findings will mean it is possible to create therapies in the future that block the activity of the fusion gene and halt the growth of tumour cells."

The new study was funded by Cancer Research UK and the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT), set up in 1996 by Dickson's parents Neil and Angela, from Dogmersfield, Hampshire.

Samantha died of cancer aged 16. Friday was the 12th anniversary of her death.

Around 3,400 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year but little is known about the causes and genetics of childhood brain tumours, the second most common type of childhood cancers.

The most common type of such tumours, pilocytic astrocytomas, affect around 145 children each year in the UK – and a quarter cannot be successfully treated.

Professor Collins added: "This is the first time a specific genetic link has been made to the majority of pilocytic astrocytomas.

"We found a specific rearrangement of DNA in around two-thirds of all cases of pilocytic astrocytoma. The resulting DNA sequence includes a portion of a gene called BRAF that is known to be mutated in a number of other cancers, and which we think may trigger this disease."

Paul Carbury, SDBTT chief executive, said:

"Our investment is starting to pay dividends and this research is a major breakthrough."

Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: "This is exciting news and this important finding will be vital in guiding future research."

The new research is published in the journal Cancer Research.