Despite considerable medical progress, cancer still remains incurable in many cases.
Cancer is triggered by changes in the genetic material of cells.
As a result, a multitude of cellular processes can go out of control. This can cause uninhibited growth of the affected cells - forming a tumor. At the Scripps Research Institute in California, Chi-Huey Wong, Steven J. Sucheck, William A. Greenberg and Thomas J. Tolbert have now taken a close look at two fused proteins. The proteins play a role in the development of leukemia, specifically in a particular type of sarcoma that appears mostly in children. In order to stop the devastating effects of these defective proteins, the researchers want to block their biosynthesis.