2023-08-27 00:01:15
Breakthrough Study Uncovers Potential Therapeutic Approach for Neuroblastomas
Neuroblastomas, a type of tumor that affects the nervous system and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young children, may have met its match. A groundbreaking research group from the University Medicine Halle has successfully uncovered the processes involved in the development of neuroblastomas for the first time.
The study, published in the specialist journal “Molecular Cancer,” reveals that the protein IGF2BP1 acts as a spark that triggers a chain of cancer-promoting processes at the cellular level. The researchers conducted preclinical trials using a molecule that effectively blocks IGF2BP1, effectively nipping the spark in the bud.
During the early stages of life, IGF2BP1 is responsible for facilitating rapid cell growth in the embryo. However, when it occurs later in life, it becomes associated with the development of various tumors. By analyzing the genetic characteristics of tumors from 100 children suffering from neuroblastoma, the research team discovered that IGF2BP1 intensifies the production of another protein. Together, these proteins activate unidentified processes at the genetic level, ultimately leading to a strong cancer-promoting effect.
Furthermore, the study demonstrated that IGF2BP1 alone is sufficient to trigger the formation, survival, growth, and spread of neuroblastomas. In mice, the induction of IGF2BP1 production consistently resulted in the development of neuroblastoma.
Considering that more than half of children with high-risk neuroblastoma experience a relapse, there is an urgent need for targeted therapies to intervene more effectively in childhood cancer. To address this, the German Cancer Aid and the German Research Foundation are supporting projects at the University Medicine Halle to identify the central drivers of cancer and develop novel low-molecular active substances to counteract them.
Blocking IGF2BP1 specifically in the human body, since it is normally no longer formed after infancy except in cancer cells, would be very promising. The research team at the Institute for Molecular Medicine at the University Medicine Halle, in collaboration with the Institute for Pharmacy at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, has successfully tested a molecule in preclinical trials. The drug candidate has shown no undesirable effects so far, serving as a basis for further development. If successful, targeted therapy against neuroblastomas could potentially avoid the severe side effects associated with chemotherapy.
However, it will still take a few years before clinical trials can be conducted to address open questions, such as the presence of IGF2BP1 in cancer cells and the best method of delivering the active ingredient to the desired site of action in the body.
Leading the research is Professor Dr. Stefan Hüttelmaier, the director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine at the University Medicine Halle. He has been studying the protein IGF2BP1 for over 20 years and first discovered its strong presence in cancer cells in 2015. Now, with the recent findings and a potential therapeutic approach, Hüttelmaier believes that the relevance of IGF2BP1 extends beyond neuroblastoma and may also play a central role in other tumors.
The groundbreaking study conducted by the research group offers new hope for children with neuroblastomas and paves the way for targeted therapies that could revolutionize treatment options in the future.]
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