RESEARCH ALERT: TARGETED TREATMENT OF COMMON BRAIN TUMOR

STUDY HOLDS PROMISE FOR FIRST TARGETED TREATMENT OF COMMON BRAIN TUMOR (St. Judes Press, May 8,2009)

A team of researchers from the US and UK have verifed a new BRAF gene thought to trigger cancer. "These genetic changes permanently activate the MAPK molecular pathway, allowing cells to multiply uncontrollably", according to the findings.  Now there is considerable excitement in the scientific community because researchers believe that "existing drugs now being tested in various cancers, such as malignant melanomoas, may also be applied to treat pediatric low grade astrocytomas (PLGA), particularly pilocytic astrocytomas." and "could offer the first effective chemotherapy for childhood low-grade astrocytomas....for children and young adults (ages 0 - l9)."    Read  more.