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Master Regulator Gene Responsible for Poor Prognosis of Brain Cancer

by Karishma Abhishek on Aug 20 2021 11:08 PM

Master regulator gene that is associated with the poorest prognosis of brain cancer has been found by a team of scientists.

Master Regulator Gene Responsible for Poor Prognosis of Brain Cancer
Master regulator gene – FOSL1 is found to serve as a general genetic switch for the mesenchymal subtype of glioblastoma, that is further associated with the poorest prognosis of brain cancer as per a study at the Centro Nacional De Investigaciones Oncológicas (Cnio) and the School of Medicine of the University of Fribourg, Germany, published in the journal eLife.
This specific key gene – FOSL1 that has been discovered by the study team, wasn’t previously related to brain tumors. The discovery serves as a missing piece in the puzzle of the mesenchymal subtype of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is one of the most common and deadly malignant brain and Central Nervous System Tumors. It has various subtypes transitions depending upon the molecular features among which mesenchymal transition is the most frequent one. The Missing Piece

Another gene – NF1 had also been known to play a prime role in mesenchymal glioblastoma. However, its mechanism was unknown. The scientists have now uncovered that the “missing link” between NF1 and the activation of the genetic program involved in mesenchymal glioblastoma is FOSL1.

Even if this finding might not be translated into a novel treatment in the short or medium term, “it is a big step forward in the search for therapies for this type of cancer with poor prognosis” says Massimo Squatrito, Head of The Seve-Ballesteros Foundation Brain Tumour Group and main co-author of the study.

The team found that in the mice model lacking the master regulator gene FOSL1 (despite mutations in NF1) resulted in the delayed tumor development. Moreover, the cancer stem cells (tumorigenic cells) actually lost their capabilities of self-renewal and regeneration.

The study shows that FOSL1 plays a fundamental role. “Our data indicate that FOSL1 is a key regulator of both glioblastoma plasticity and mesenchymal transition,” says the authors.

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The team further anticipates developing ways for blocking this gene to serve as a therapeutic intervention.

Source-Medindia


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