Protein research reveals insight into childhood brain tumour development

Researchers have identified a mechanism responsible for causing a common form of childhood brain tumour that could be targeted as a potential treatment.

Carried out by the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (IRCM) and the University of Montreal, the study discovered that a form of protein known as Sonic Hedgehog induces DNA damage, which causes cases of medulloblastoma to develop.

It was found that Boc, a receptor located on the cell surface that detects Sonic Hedgehog, is required for the protein to induce DNA damage, thus promoting the progression of precancerous lesions into advanced medulloblastoma.

When Boc is inactivated, the number of tumours is reduced by 66 per cent, suggesting it could be a viable target for the treatment of one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in children.

Dr Frederic Charron, director of the molecular biology of neural development research unit at the IRCM, said: "Our results indicate that Boc could potentially be targeted to develop a new therapeutic approach that would stop the growth and progression of medulloblastoma and could reduce the adverse side effects of current treatments."

Sonic Hedgehog is known to play a role in cell growth, cell specialisation and the normal shaping of the body.