Mouse model of bone cancer is developed

Published: June 17, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Order reprints
BOSTON, June 17 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers say they have created a new mouse model of osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer and one of the most lethal.

Osteosarcoma results from the dysregulated growth of osteoblasts -- the cells that form the bone matrix. It primarily develops near the ends of the femur, tibia or humerus and is usually diagnosed during adolescence.

While the precise causes of osteosarcoma are unknown, scientists said it's evident two tumor suppressor genes -- p53 and Rb -- are involved, as children with familial mutation syndromes affecting either of those genes have higher incidences of osteosarcoma.

Dr. Stuart Orkin of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and colleagues developed a novel experimental system to model the genetics of human osteosarcoma. The researchers said they concluded p53 loss is essential for the development of osteosarcoma, and that while Rb gene mutation acts synergistically with p53 loss to facilitate carcinogenesis, loss of Rb alone is not sufficient to induce osteosarcomagenesis.

Orkin said he's hopeful the findings "will stimulate translational efforts to develop novel therapies for this devastating bone tumor."

The research is reported in the journal Genes & Development.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News (5 min)
ROTC cadet dies during training exercise (7 min)
Lead level prompts recall of Sport Balls (11 min)
Driver in Michigan crash had lost license (18 min)
Judge: No women ski jumping in 2010 games (34 min)
High court: Political ads on buses legal (35 min)
UPI NewsTrack Sports (40 min)
fark
Naked man claiming to be a Terminator from the future arrested at Nevada casino, vows he'll be back...
CNN delves into the hard-hitting story others are too timid to confront: What do psychics have to...
Prospect Heights, Illinois Police Department HQ to close to the public on Fridays. Citizens are...
This sounds safe: 500,000 people with access to military weapons, all going through nicotine withdrawal...
"She's an opportunistic gold-digging attention whore," says opportunistic gold-digging attention...
Llost llamas llocated in Llouisville