Bio Briefs

Posted By

Flinn Foundation

Recent Posts on This Topic | See All >

Apr 17, 2009
Research-icon-large

TGen researchers discover possible way to block the spread of deadly brain tumors

Tags: barrow neurological institute, cancer, neuroscience, tgen

[Source: TGen] - Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) may have found a way to stop the often-rapid spread of deadly brain tumors.

A gene with the playful-sounding name NHERF-1 may be a serious target for drugs that could prevent malignant tumors from rapidly multiplying and invading other parts of the brain, according to a cover story in this month's edition of Neoplasia, an international journal of cancer research.

Cancer cell movement and rapid division are key characteristics of malignant brain tumors known as glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM.

Dr. Michael Berens, Director of TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology Division, said the recent findings are a major step toward devising a treatment for GBM, which because of its ability to rapidly grow within the brain often means patients have little time to survive.

For more information click here.