Scientists identify link between genetic changes and rare childhood cancer rhabdomyosarcoma

Genetic changes may help to improve decision making for the treatment of the rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer rhabdomyosarcoma, according to a new international study led by researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR). The study analysed the DNA from 641 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare and aggressive type of childhood cancer that resembles muscle tissue and mostly affects children. According to ICR, less than 30% of children with this type of cancer who have relapsed and whose disease has spread will survive. There are two main subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma, including fusion gene-positive and fusion gene-negative, depending on the presence of a ‘fusion gene’. Researchers found that, when looking at those with fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma, children whose tumours had faults in the genes MYOD1 and TP53 had significantly poorer response to treatment and worse survival outcomes. The TP53 gene was found to be altered in 69 ...

• Source: drugdu
• 171
• June 28, 2021