Researchers at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovered a protein that the conduct of the aggressive childhood cancer neuroblastoma can predict. According to the hospital, it is a significant discovery because there is little known about this cancer.
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in very young children. However, the disease is relatively rare.
In the Netherlands, affecting about 35 children per year. Striking neuroblastoma is that the tumor may disappear by itself again, especially in the youngest patients (children under two). But older children the tumor grows often, especially if it spreads, it is very difficult to treat.
In the hope of new treatments worldwide research into the development of these tumors. The research of the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovered that a particular protein 'GDE2 plays an important role in this biological puzzle. Patients with many of these proteins in their tumor appear to have much more favorable outlook than children with little of these substances.
The corresponding proteins ensure, inter alia, that the cancer cells are less easily spread through the body. According to the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek's discovery is an important step in the future development of new medicines. The research was conducted in collaboration with the AMC.
The results were published on Thursday in the prestigious journal Cancer Cell.
By Editors AD: Photo: Reuters
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