Down syndrome reveals a key to halting cancer
May 21st, 2009From Nature News, Forbes, US News & World Report, BBC News, Reuters, MIT Technology Review:
People with Down syndrome rarely get most kinds of cancer, and researchers have now found a reason why: they have an extra copy of a gene that keeps tumors from growing.
A study published yesterday in the journal Nature finds that the DSCR1 gene on the extra copy of the chromosome that causes Down syndrome can starve some cancers — a finding that leads to hope of cancer treatments for the broader population.
“This is a big finding,” said Sandra Ryeom, a biologist at Children’s Hospital Boston and one of the study’s authors. “It offers us all these new targets for cancer therapy.”
Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome, and is associated with a host of health issues including mild to moderate developmental disabilities and a heightened incidence of heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease. Yet research has also found that people with Down syndrome are highly resistant to cancer, with a mortality rate that is less than one tenth that of the general population.
Ryeom said she hoped the study could lead to the creation of preventive therapies that would protect people against developing cancer. But other researchers cautioned against too much optimism, saying the study may not lead to effective anti-cancer drugs any time soon.
Earlier post here.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Here are the comments of a college biology department chair:
“I think that it is very interesting and the fact that the gene that slows down blood-cell invasion into neoplasms was found in a trisomy 21 tissue is not the issue as far as I am concerned. It could have been found on chromosome 21 in someone with only 2 copies of each. I don’t know if the gene comes in dominant and recessive forms, has a codominant interaction or what. When 2 genes are active for the same trait, then a medium amount of molecule is made. If only one gene in the pair can make this molecule than there is 1/2 as much as normal. If three genes in the pair all can make the molecule then it would have 3x as much of the molecule and this would be easier to find. I do not think that it is a treatment to people with downs nor do I think the interest in the gene is a threat. Researchers are happy to know where the gene is. If anything I would be happy that anyone was lucky enough to have extra protection from some forms of cancer.”