Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have published new data on retinoblastoma
2007 NOV 19 -- Fresh data on retinoblastoma are presented in the report 'Differentiated horizontal interneurons clonally expand to form metastatic retinoblastoma in mice.' "During neurogenesis, the progression from a progenitor cell to a differentiated neuron is believed to be unidirectional and irreversible. The Rb family of proteins (Rb, p107, and p130) regulates cell-cycle exit and differentiation during retinogenesis," scientists in the United States report. "Rb and p130 are redundantly expressed in the neurons of the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the retina. We have found that in the adult Rb;p130-deficient retinae p107 compensation prevents ectopic proliferation of INL neurons. However, p107 is haploinsufficient in this process. Differentiated Rb(-/-);p107(±);p130(-/-) horizontal interneurons re-entered the cell cycle, clonally expanded, and formed metastatic retinoblastoma. Horizontal cells were not affected in Rb(±);p107(-/-);p130(-/-) or Rb(-/-);p107(-/-);p130(±), retinae suggesting that one copy of Rb or p130 was sufficient to prevent horizontal proliferation," wrote I. Ajioka and colleagues, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The researchers concluded: "We hereby report that differentiated neurons can proliferate and form cancer while maintaining their differentiated state including neurites and synaptic connections." Ajioka and colleagues published their study in Cell (Differentiated horizontal interneurons clonally expand to form metastatic retinoblastoma in mice. Cell, 2007;131(2):378-90). For more information, contact I. Ajioka, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dept. of Developmental Neurobiology, 332 N Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105 USA.. Publisher contact information for the journal Cell is: Cell Press, 1100 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Keywords: United States, Lauderdale, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Retinoblastoma. This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.
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