Dr. Antonio Iavarone, professor of pathology and neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, along with his research team, has determined that certain cases of gliobastoma, considered to be the most common and aggressive brain cancer, are caused "by the fusion of two adjacent genes, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and transforming acidic coiled-coil (TACC)." In a preclincal study, Dr. Iavarone discovered that drugs targetting this genetic abnomaly can stagnate the growth of this cancer. Based on tests conducted thus far in the brain cells of healthy mice, there is hope that this discovery will lead to new forms fo treatment for patients afflicted with glioblastoma.
To read more about this study, click here.
Study mentioned: Singh D et al. Transforming fusions of FGFR and TACC genes in human glioblastoma. Science. 2012 Jul 26 [Epub ahead of print]. PMID 22837387
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