Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Researchers Study Tumor Suppression Link to Down Syndrome
A recent article in the Boston Globe reports that scientists have found that a chromosome in Down syndrome patients has a gene that actually works to starve cancer tumors. Research done by Dr. Judah Folkman at Children’s Hospital in Boston who always wondered why Down syndrome patients seldom developed cancer tumors has helped lead to identifying the gene responsible. Dr. Folkma was a pioneer in the area of angiogenesis, the study of the growth of blood vessels that keep cancer cells alive and he theorized that angiogenesis inhibiting the growth of blood vessels might be the key to stopping the cancer tumors from developing.
According to the article, the study may help scientists to develop treatments and preventive medications to treat cancer tumors. A researcher named Sandra Ryeom and other researchers have been studying a protein called calcineurin and found a genetic mechanism that acts like an on-off switch for calcineurin.
Chromosome 21
Researchers found that this gene lives in chromosome 21, the same chromosome that is in people with Down syndrome. Chromosomes are usually in pairs, but people who have Down syndrome have three chromosome 21 that causes the features and medical problems of Down syndrome that includes possible heart defects, respiratory problems, and Alzheimer’s disease and that the gene stopped the growth of blood vessels that feed tumors.
According to the article, what epidemiological studies have shown is that among the 400,000 people in the U.S. With Down syndrome, most never die from solid tumors, although the syndrome increases the possibility of leukemia and the researchers were curious about why people with Down syndrome get fewer solid tumors but more leukemia.
Stem cell research
According to the Globe, stem cell researcher George Q. Daley of Children’s Hospital used genetic technology to study human stem cells and tumor growth. They found that with Down syndrome the stem cells had few blood vessels and the extra supply of DSCR-1 genes was part of the reason there were few blood vessels. The researchers also found a second gene out of the 321 that are part of chromosome 21 that also reduces blood vessels. The second gene, called Dyrk1a, blocks the pathway that helps tumors develop the necessary blood supply. Dr. Ryeom suggested there may be as many as five genes involved in tumor suppression.
Some researchers think that this finding can lead to producing a medicine that would prevent tumors from turning into cancer. But they are cautious about calling it a break-through or a cure. To turn this information into a preventive medicine will take more time and study.
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