Researchers working together from
the Centre for Immunology and Infection at York University as well as the Department
of Medicine at Stony Brook University have made a significant discovery that
may lead to the development of new treatments for specific blood cancers. The therapeutic
target discovered has potential to lead to improved therapies for a group of specific
haematological cancers, myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
These cancers are characterized
by increases in one or more blood cell types, specifically red blood cells. Red
blood cells carry oxygen around the body as well as prevent bleeding and
bruising from easily occurring. It is important for tight control of the number
of red blood cells in circulation in the body; however, in the bulk of patients
with MPN have a mutation in the JAK2 protein. The mutation in the protein causes
the patients’ blood cells to propagate too quickly.
The research team discovered that
the protein molecule Mpl is necessary for the occurrence of the mutation in the
JAK2 protein. Specifically, the team identified that turning off half the gene
in the Mpl receptor reduced the expression enough so that the mutation did not
occur in the JAK2 protein; therefore, the disease does not develop.
Dr. Ian Hitchcock, of the Centre
for Immunology and Infection at York University, stated, “This is potentially
important medically because it means we can target Mpl. If you can disrupt its
activity you have a completely novel treatment for the disease. We found that
it is unnecessary to get rid of the receptor entirely, you just need to reduce
its expression to have a significant effect on the development of MPN.”
This article was very interesting
because of the potential the research team’s discovery has. Despite the
significant improvements made in cancer research there still remains a lot to
be discovered. This research has the potential to completely change how specific
blood cancers are treated. I am curious to see the results of further research, in particular clinical trials that compare the outcomes of subjects/patients using
treatments based off of this discovery compared to subjects/patients who are
treated using current treatments.
Secondary Article: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/JAK2
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