[ad_1]
An international study, involving the University of Newcastle, UK, for the first time found a genetic marker in tumors from patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, identified that changes in neuroblastoma ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) are associated with a markedly poorer prognosis in children with high-risk disease.
Experts say that by identifying this important genetic marker, it means patients should be put on ALK inhibitors at the time of diagnosis in the hope of a cure.
Personalized treatment
Professor Deborah Tweddle, of the Newcastle University Center for Cancer and Honorary Consultant to the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led the UK part of the study.
She said: “By identifying ALK as a genetic marker associated with the likelihood of a worse outcome in the high-risk group of patients, this means that we can treat these patients differently from the start.
“The most exciting thing is that there are new treatments that target the ALK protein itself, used in other cancers that can now be used for high-risk neuroblastoma patients with ALK genetic abnormalities.
“This research is a great example of personalized medicine. By treating these patients with a ALK genetic abnormality with ALK inhibitor, we tailor the treatment to the individual tumor type of patients.
“By combining a ALK inhibitor along with the other treatments we are currently giving for high-risk neuroblastoma, we hope to be able to cure more patients with this aggressive childhood cancer. “
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nervous system that mainly affects children under the age of five. It often starts in the adrenal gland, but in about half of cases it has spread throughout the body when diagnosed – in these high-risk cases survival is only about 50%.
Unfortunately, barely half of children live beyond five years after diagnosis, despite treatment including high-dose chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
Several European countries participated in the study and the UK branch of the trial is based at Newcastle University, with the test being performed at the Newcastle Genetics Lab, supported by grants from Solving Kids Cancer and Neuroblastoma UK.
Study results
Experts have realized ALK testing as many neuroblastomas as possible in patients treated in the high-risk trial and pooling this data with that from national genetic reference laboratories in 19 other countries.
The study showed that ALK mutations are present in about 14% of newly diagnosed patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, and almost 4% have this gene amplified.
More importantly, these abnormalities are associated with a lower survival rate and therefore are important prognostic markers that could be targeted by treatment.
Professor Tweddle added: “As part of the upcoming European clinical trial for high-risk neuroblastoma, we will be treating all patients with high risk neuroblastoma. ALK abnormality found in their tumor with a ALK inhibitor in addition to standard therapy. “
The breakthrough comes with the launch of the Newcastle University Cancer Fund, a new fundraising effort to inspire the next generation of cancer researchers to train and work in Newcastle to benefit people living with cancer locally as well as to send their research around the world.
The Fund will work with cancer researchers from the earliest stages of their studies and support them to the point where they become established cancer researchers.
Patient case study
A happy schoolboy, Alexander Mohammed lives his life to the fullest, devoting himself to fishing and outdoor activities with his family.
But five years ago, it was a very different story when the youngster from Gosforth, Newcastle, was diagnosed with a devastating neuroblastoma.
For almost two years, Alexander underwent intensive treatment which included numerous aggressive cycles of chemotherapy at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.
The 10-year-old is now in remission and is monitored every six months under the care of Professor Deborah Tweddle.
Alexander Raphael’s father, a 43-year-old doctor, said: “When Alexander was diagnosed with cancer it was such a shock and not something we expected as he did not have the classic symptoms of cancer. neuroblastoma.
“It was hard to see him undergo intensive treatment but he was so brave and to see how well he is now is fantastic as he has been in remission for four years.
“Hearing about this major breakthrough in the treatment of children’s disease offers real hope for personalized treatment options in the future so that the lives of more young people can be saved.”
Reference: Bellini A, Pötschger U, Bernard V, et al. Frequency and Prognostic Impact of ALK Amplifications and Mutations in the European Neuroblastoma Study Group (SIOPEN) High-Risk Neuroblastoma Trial (HR-NBL1). JCO. 2021: JCO.21.00086. do I: 10.1200 / JCO.21.00086
This article was republished from the following materials. Note: The material may have been modified for its length and content. For more information, please contact the cited source.
[ad_2]
Pictures Credit