MEMPHIS, March 18 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists have identified the signaling system that halts the growth of medulloblastoma tumors -- a childhood brain cancer.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered proteins BMP2, BMP4 and BMP7 inhibit the growth of medulloblastoma tumors, while inducing malignant cells to develop into normal neurons.
The researchers say their findings might lead to safer treatments for the rare, but often fatal, childhood brain tumor.
"We think we have identified a pathway that can be used to prevent tumor formation and a potential target for therapy," said Martine Roussel of the St. Jude Department of Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology.
A report on the work appears in the journal Genes & Development.
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