Calgary scientists grow tumour to find infant brain cancer treatment
07.08.2008 00:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Cultivating cells from a rare brain cancer that attacks infants and children may increase the chances of finding a treatment, says a team of Calgary researchers. The team, based at the University of Calgary and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, developed a way to grow atypical teratoid/rhaboid tumours (AT/RT) in a petri dish, which had proven to be difficult. "It's a very rare, rare tumour, and it has been a problem growing them outside the body. For some unknown reason, they do not grow outside the body," explained Dr. Aru Narendran on Wednesday. 'Nothing that we do today is going to help the children that are diagnosed yesterday or today. But this is definitely for the children that are diagnosed tomorrow.'—Christine Wandzura, Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta The researchers added a small amount of brain fluid from an infant suffering from AT/RT to successfully grow the cells in a petri dish. Their findings were published in the July 24 edition of the Journal of Neuro-Oncology. "To do (drug) tests we need to have cancer cells in cultures," said Narendran. "We take the cancer cells, add the targeted therapy (drug) agent and show whether it can kill or not kill." AT/RT is a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer that affects infants and young children. Although only about a dozen cases are diagnosed in Canada every year, fewer than 10 per cent of children under three who get it survive. The research was funded by the Brain Tumour Research Foundation of Canada and the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, which was started by Christine Wandzura who lost her son to a brain tumour in 1991. "As a mother that's lost her child to a brain tumour, I think that it's very bittersweet," she said. "Nothing that we do today is going to help the children that are diagnosed yesterday or today. But this is definitely for the children that are diagnosed tomorrow." Narendran said they've already been able to test a drug that blocks a receptor that helps the tumour grow. He said when the drug was added to a culture of AT/RT cells, they all died. "They went into suicide mode. They turned on their internal killing mechanism, and they died," he said. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksCancer treatment centre to aid southern Alberta patientsCalgary woman recovering after robotic arm removes brain tumourU of C researcher finds clue to brain cancer mysteryAudio Danielle Nerman reports: Calgary scientists have found a way to cultivate AT/RT cells in the search for a treatment (Runs: 1:29) Play: Real Media »Health HeadlinesFewer suds downed, Americans say, but alcohol disorders persistMore Americans say they're pushing aside their beer steins, but the rate of alcohol-related disorders has remained steady, U.S. researchers said Wednesday. Peruvian doctors showcase high cure rate for drug-resistant TBMore than 60 per cent of patients diagnosed with a type of tuberculosis that is very difficult to treat were cured with aggressive drug treatment, according to a study from Peru that shows the disease is not a 'death sentence.'Canadian health minister resists WHO on safe injection sitesThe federal health minister repeated his opposition to safe injection sites at an international AIDS conference this week, in contrast to the World Health Organization's supportive stance on the harm reduction approach. Lyme disease controversy spreading across CanadaPatient advocacy groups contend Lyme disease is reaching epidemic proportions, but officials say there is no evidence.Calgary scientists grow tumour to find infant brain cancer treatmentCultivating cells from a rare brain cancer that attacks infants and children may increase the chances of finding a treatment, says a team of Calgary researchers. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHPhthalatesAre chemicals that make plastic bendy a health hazard?AIDS RESEARCHLife expectancyBig jump in survival rates for those on HIV drugsIN DEPTHLyme diseaseTiny tick, big problemANOTHER VIEWDrugs and drivingNew law a 'positive step', analyst saysHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosBreaking up's not that hard to doHEALTHTrans fatsPeople who read this also read …
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