Researchers Found Metabolic Enzymes Related To Leukemia, Brain Cancer

Scientists were finally able to describe and decode the molecular mechanisms behind a genetic mutation of metabolic enzymes linked in the development of brain cancer and leukemia.

This scientific breakthrough was done in a joint research by Frederick Antoine Mallette, of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre and the University of Montreal, and Marc-Étienne Huot, of Laval University. The researchers found out that the specific molecular modes of actions of a mutated metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenases 1,2 (IDH 1,2) particularly the metabolic activities involved in cancer cell formation. Through this findings, researchers can exploit this discovery to develop anti-cancer treatments that could specifically target these metabolic activities, as reported on Medical News Today.

"With the identification of the molecular modes of action that contribute to cancer in patients carrying IDH1/2 mutations, it is now possible to consider personalized treatment to potentially improve therapeutic response." Dr. Mallette said on the report.

 Medical Times reported that brain cancer and leukemia are two diseases causing thousands of death in Canada annually. In a 2015   cancer statistics, brain cancer and leukemia caused 3,000 and 6,2000 diagnoses respectively. While on the statistics gathered by American Cancer Society, leukemia is the leading cancer developed by children which accounts to 1 for every 3 cancers for 19 years old and below. Both cancer types are generally considered as the most fatal of all cancer types. What worsens the situation is that the treatment for these cancers is very expensive with a relatively low chance of survival and recovery rate. Also, Researchers confirmed that some genetic mutations linked to brain and blood cancer formation is said to be hereditary like the one caused by Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Meanwhile, this research that was published in Nature Communications, was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Research Chairs Program, Cole Foundation, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, and the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé.