An international team led by the Department
of Neurosurgery, Niigata University, has identified a new gene called
Schlafen11 (SLFN11) whose expression is tightly correlated with response to
chemotherapy in medulloblastomas, a highly malignant brain tumor affecting pediatric,
adolescent, and young adult populations. The results of the study were
published online in the journal Neuro-Oncology on October 23, 2022.
Researchers first noticed
that SLFN11 is highly expressed in almost all cases of WNT-activated
medulloblastomas, which is the molecular subgroup with the best prognosis.
Further studies using medulloblastoma cell lines showed that genetically
manipulating SLFN11 led to drastic changes in response to cisplatin,
a key drug for treating this deadly tumor.
Some cases of medulloblastomas respond
better to treatment than others, but researchers did not why. We can now better
anticipate which cases will respond to chemotherapy. They also found that by
using a different drug called HDAC inhibitor, they can increase SLFN11 levels
in tumors and make them more responsive to cisplatin.
In conclusion this findings can pave new
path to treat cancer and medulloblastomas uch studies are needed to know exact
mechanism.
Reference:
Study identifies new gene which can increase chemotherapeutic response
in medulloblastomas; NIIGATA UNIVERSITY, JOURNAL Neuro-Oncology; DOI:
10.1093/neuonc/noac243