A study found that the way DNA is organized in 3D can affect the growth of a tough brain tumor called glioblastoma.
They figured out how glioblastoma responds to nerve cells and becomes more dangerous.
This discovery could lead to better treatments for brain tumors.
More about the tumor
Glioblastoma is a very deadly brain tumor, and there's no cure right now. People with glioblastoma usually live for about one year after they're diagnosed.
Even with the current treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, only a small percentage of patients live for five years after diagnosis.
One way to understand and fight this cancer is by looking at DNA.
Changes in parts of DNA that aren't genes can increase the risk of cancer and affect how genes work.
DNA has "switches" called enhancers that control when and where genes turn on. It's important to control genes carefully.
Mistakes in these "switches" or how they work can lead to changes in gene behavior and eventually cause cancer.
Researchers also found that nerve cells can send signals to brain tumor cells, making them grow and spread.
The recent study shows that changes in DNA structure and enhancers, which affect how genes work, are important in the talk between nerve cells and tumor cells.
It reveals how glioblastoma cells become more dangerous when they get signals from nerve cells.
They studied cells from glioblastoma patients and used advanced techniques to understand DNA structure and epigenetics.
They found two important proteins, SMAD3 and PITX1, that control the DNA switches regulating gene behavior.
In experiments with cells and mice, they saw that when SMAD3 is blocked, and the nerve cell signals are present, the tumor grows and spreads more.
Why it might be helpful
The researchers are hopeful that this discovery can help us fight glioblastoma by controlling how nerve cells and brain tumors communicate.
This could lead to new treatments that target this important communication and hopefully improve the outlook for glioblastoma patients.
