Gene that could lead to new therapies for bone marrow disease identified
September 29th, 2009 - 1:34 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Sept 29 (ANI): Scientists from Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) have identified a gene that helps in progression of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a bone marrow disease.
They believe that the new gene called RhoB could prove to be a therapeutic target for late-stage MDS.
“Using our genetic models, we’ve been able to provide a better understanding of underlying molecular defects that drive the malignant progression of MDS,” said VARI Distinguished Scientific Investigator Dr Art Alberts.
“The genes that we’ve focused on in this study might have a role not only in leukemia, but in solid tumors as well,” said Alberts.
The researchers had previously found that the Drf1 gene is crucial to the development of MDS.
In the new study, the lab found that the RhoB gene is important as well; lack of the proteins that are the product of the gene accelerates the disease’s progression.
The researchers believe examining RhoB levels in samples from patients with advanced MDS could help direct them to better treatment options.
“Our goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop new drugs that affect their activity, but also to find ways to improve upon existing therapeutic strategies that are often associated with deleterious side effects,” said Alberts.
The findings are published in the journal PLoS ONE. (ANI)
- Molecules that help propel cancer metastasis identified - Apr 08, 2011
- Bioengineered protein may help fight leukemia - Feb 19, 2011
- Factor boosting leukemia's aggressiveness identified - Oct 23, 2010
- Pak businessman is Delhi's first marrow transplant case from unrelated donor - Sep 17, 2012
- Genetic marker of aggressive Alzheimer's disease identified - Sep 17, 2010
- Mouse genome offers human cancer clue - Mar 24, 2011
- New genetic clue to kidney cancer - Jan 20, 2011
- 5 risk factors for late-stage head and neck cancer identified - Oct 29, 2010
- New study shows evidence of stem cells' pivotal role in cancer - Dec 22, 2010
- Zebrafish offers skin cancer clues - Apr 06, 2011
- Key pathway implicated in progression of childhood cancer found - Sep 19, 2010
- Rave drug sparks hope for treating Parkinson's - Jun 15, 2012
- Genes tied to shrinking brain, Alzheimer's identified - Apr 16, 2012
- Key cause of chronic leukemia progression identified - Mar 05, 2010
- Nine genes found to affect bone density - Aug 08, 2012
Tags: bone marrow disease, deleterious side effects, genes, genetic models, leukemia, malignant progression, new drugs, plos one, proteins, scientific investigator, scientists, therapeutic strategies, therapeutic target, therapeutic targets, treatment options, tumors, van andel research institute