Friday, May 20, 2022
SCIENMAG: Latest Science and Health News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME PAGE
  • BIOLOGY
  • CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
  • MEDICINE
    • Cancer
    • Infectious Emerging Diseases
  • SPACE
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME PAGE
  • BIOLOGY
  • CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
  • MEDICINE
    • Cancer
    • Infectious Emerging Diseases
  • SPACE
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag - Latest science news from science magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home SCIENCE NEWS Biology

Researchers uncover crucial gene for growth of Ewing sarcoma

October 23, 2020
in Biology
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

An epigenetic vulnerability opens the door for new therapies

IMAGE

Credit: Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu

Researchers at the Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD) in collaboration with those at Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have discovered that RING1B is a critical gene for the development of Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of developmental cancer that presents in bones and soft tissues. This newly uncovered epigenetic vulnerability in Ewing sarcoma cancer cells opens the door for new therapeutic strategies.

Ewing sarcoma is caused by a chromosomal translocation, where the EWSR1 gene in chromosome 22 fuses with most commonly the FLI1 gene in chromosome 11. The resulting EWSR1-FLI1 fusion protein, which contains the transcriptional activation machinery of EWSR1 and the DNA-binding domain of FLI1, is the main driver of tumorigenesis.

A new study published today in Science Advances describes how the oncogenic EWSR1-FLI1 fusion protein is directed to the different parts of the genome by RING1B, allowing EWSR1-FLI1 to hijack the transcriptional program of the cells, turning them into cancerous cells.

Researchers found that RING1B and EWSR1-FLI1 localize at the same regions in the genome, where RING1B is responsible for EWSR1-FLI1 recruitment. EWSR1-FLI1 cannot activate its target genes and transform a cell from healthy to cancerous state without RING1B, as shown by impaired tumour growth when RING1B is reduced.

Epigenetic inhibitors have been previously proposed to treat Ewing sarcoma and other types of paediatric cancers such as neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma or synovial sarcoma. Further research could explore the pharmacological inhibition of RING1B as a clinical therapy to treat Ewing sarcoma.

“Our findings offer striking insights into the mechanism of Ewing sarcoma, helping us get closer to uncovering the elusive cell-of-origin for this rare type of cancer,” says Luciano Di Croce, researcher at the Centre for Genomic Regulation and one of the authors of the study. “All we have to do is look for high levels of RING1B.”

“EWSR1-FLI1 remains a challenging druggable target, therefore understanding its dependencies may offer alternative strategies to switch off its aberrant transcriptional program,” says Sara Sánchez-Molina, first author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu.

“Ewing tumors are paradigmatic examples of developmental cancers, where the first hit (genetic or epigenetic) occurs during embryonic development (gestation) and, in the majority of Ewing sarcomas, develops postnatally during specific stages of growth like puberty. The study supports the model by which embryonic stem cells characterized by high levels of RING1B are capable to sustain the aberrant transcriptional program caused by the oncogenic fusion protein. Ewing sarcoma will develop if the individual is born with precursor cells bearing the fusion oncoprotein”, says Jaume Mora, Scientific Director of the Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona-Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, and director of the study.

###

Media Contact
Omar Jamshed
[email protected]

Related Journal Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba3058

Tags: cancerCell BiologyGeneticsMedicine/Health
Share25Tweet16Share4ShareSendShare
  • Researchers discover genetic cause of megaesophagus in dogs

    Researchers discover genetic cause of megaesophagus in dogs

    1025 shares
    Share 410 Tweet 256
  • Possible discovery of mechanism behind mysterious COVID-19 symptoms

    68 shares
    Share 27 Tweet 17
  • Some people fared better than others during COVID-19 pandemic due to genetics

    67 shares
    Share 27 Tweet 17
  • Do early therapies help very young children with or at high likelihood for autism?

    69 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 17
  • Study tests link between common blood pressure pills and breast cancer

    65 shares
    Share 26 Tweet 16
  • Charging a green future: Latest advancement in lithium-ion batteries could make them ubiquitous

    65 shares
    Share 26 Tweet 16
ADVERTISEMENT

About us

We bring you the latest science news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Latest NEWS

Understanding how sunscreens damage coral

SUTD develops design-based activity to enhance students’ understanding in electrochemistry

New Curtin research resurrects ‘lost’ coral species

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 187 other subscribers

© 2022 Scienmag- Science Magazine: Latest Science News.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME PAGE
  • BIOLOGY
  • CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
  • MEDICINE
    • Cancer
    • Infectious Emerging Diseases
  • SPACE
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • CONTACT US

© 2022 Scienmag- Science Magazine: Latest Science News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Posting....