Gene Related Brain Tumors

In a recent article with relation to brain tumors, researchers from Heidelberg University Hospitals have worked together to find out which genetic defect exactly causes brain tumors.  The most common brain tumor in children is known today as pilocytic astrocytoma, which are usually benign, but if they grow too large in size, surgeons may not be able to remove it do to the severe risks. These researchers have ran tests through mice by injecting a few mice with the defective gene known as BRAF within a virus in which they then introduced it into the neuronal precursor cells of these mice.  Once the mice were injected, the results shown that astrocytes were present through a series of brown staining.  And within 91 percent of these treated mice, multiples tumors formed around the injection site. If this study remains successful, doctors will be able to significantly slow down the growing process of brain tumors within children.  This study is well worth it since brain tumors have horrible risks as it is and this new treatment already has an extremely positive outcome.