Single Gene Defect Causes Brain Tumor

In this article, Pilocytic astrocytoma is a brain tumor that develops in children. This defect is found on the BRAF gene. This permanently activate the cellular signaling pathway. Research was done by by adding the BRAF gene into a virus and put into the neuronal precursor cells in mice. Tumors developed in 91% of the mice. This shows that a single gene is the cause of Pilocytic astrocytoma. Signals are sent to cancer cells to cause the tumors to grow. This is cause by MAP kinase. The process can be slowed by some drugs that inhibit the enzyme actvity.