home   genetic news   bioinformatics   biotechnology   literature   journals   ethics   positions   events   sitemap
 
  HUM-MOLGEN -> Genetic News | search  
 

Niche Genetics Influence Leukaemia

 
  April, 9 2010 9:02
your information resource in human molecular genetics
 
     

Certain blood cancers can be triggered by genetic changes in the blood cells' microenvironment, a new mouse model of cancer indicates. The finding may have implications for our understanding and treatment of leukaemia.

Deletion in bone progenitor cells of Dicer1, a gene involved in microRNA processing, disrupts normal blood cell production and can lead to leukaemia, David Scadden and colleagues report in Nature. The progenitor cells, which form part of the 'niche' surrounding blood cells, have lower levels of Sbds, the gene mutated in Schwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome -- a human bone marrow failure that predisposes to leukaemia.

The team envisage a 'niche-based' model of oncogenesis in which a change in a specific microenvironmental cell acts as the primary moment in a multi-step process towards malignancy of a supported, but distinct cell type. Signals generated by the microenvironment may therefore represent possible therapeutic targets for treatment and prevention strategies.

Author contact:

David Scadden (MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston, MA, USA)
E-mail: dscadden@mgh.harvard.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Nature press release.


Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza

print this article mail this article
Latest News
Variants Associated with Pediatric Allergic Disorder

Mutations in PHF6 Found in T-Cell Leukemia

Genetic Risk Variant for Urinary Bladder Cancer

Antibody Has Therapeutic Effect on Mice with ALS

Regulating P53 Activity in Cancer Cells

Anti-RNA Therapy Counters Breast Cancer Spread

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity

The Power of RNA Sequencing

‘Pro-Ageing' Therapy for Cancer?

Niche Genetics Influence Leukaemia

Molecular Biology: Clinical Promise for RNA Interference

Chemoprevention Cocktail for Colon Cancer

more news ...

Generated by News Editor 2.0 by Kai Garlipp
WWW: Kai Garlipp, Frank S. Zollmann.
7.0 © 1995-2023 HUM-MOLGEN. All rights reserved. Liability, Copyright and Imprint.