Skeletal Human Anatomy Current Event
Maya Bourgeois 10/26/14 09/08/14
“Notch1 and osteoblasts play role in bone cancer initiation”
Baylor College of Medicine Glenna Picton
Some molecular and cellular geneticists at the Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that Notch1, a gene that can decide cellular fate, can cause osteoblasts (cells that lead to bone formation) to become cancerous. They determined this data using a mouse model of osteogenic sarcoma, a deadly bone malignancy. Turns out that in mice, Notch 1 intracellular domain induces bone tumors 100% penetrance, and it seems as though osteosarcoma in mice initiated by Notch activation mimics the human disease. Dr. Brendan Lee, the corresponding author of the report, says that "This is the first example of Notch1 driving this type of cancer. Our study supports the hypothesis that Notch activating mutations can act as a common triggering mechanism in cells of mesenchymal origin such as committed osteoblasts. This is an unusual cancer that affects mainly the young and adults over 40. Treatment, once the disease has metastasized is only about 50 percent successful.” The results of the study showed that expression of the NICD in immature osteoblasts was sufficient to drive the formation of bone tumors, including osteogenic sarcoma, with complete penetrance. These tumors were shown to display features of human osteogenic sarcoma, specifically histopathology, cytogenetic complexity, and metastatic potential. Their studies in the mouse found that osteoblasts, the predecessor to the formation of bone and other bone-related cells, can be cells in which osteogenic sarcoma begins. Most importantly, this mouse model reveals osteoblasts as the potential sources of osteogenic sarcoma. This clinical trial opens many doors to anyone that has a form of osteogenic sarcoma, because knowledge of what accelerates the cancer at the molecular level can assist in the identification of other targets that could augment
“Notch1 and osteoblasts play role in bone cancer initiation”
Baylor College of Medicine Glenna Picton
Some molecular and cellular geneticists at the Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that Notch1, a gene that can decide cellular fate, can cause osteoblasts (cells that lead to bone formation) to become cancerous. They determined this data using a mouse model of osteogenic sarcoma, a deadly bone malignancy. Turns out that in mice, Notch 1 intracellular domain induces bone tumors 100% penetrance, and it seems as though osteosarcoma in mice initiated by Notch activation mimics the human disease. Dr. Brendan Lee, the corresponding author of the report, says that "This is the first example of Notch1 driving this type of cancer. Our study supports the hypothesis that Notch activating mutations can act as a common triggering mechanism in cells of mesenchymal origin such as committed osteoblasts. This is an unusual cancer that affects mainly the young and adults over 40. Treatment, once the disease has metastasized is only about 50 percent successful.” The results of the study showed that expression of the NICD in immature osteoblasts was sufficient to drive the formation of bone tumors, including osteogenic sarcoma, with complete penetrance. These tumors were shown to display features of human osteogenic sarcoma, specifically histopathology, cytogenetic complexity, and metastatic potential. Their studies in the mouse found that osteoblasts, the predecessor to the formation of bone and other bone-related cells, can be cells in which osteogenic sarcoma begins. Most importantly, this mouse model reveals osteoblasts as the potential sources of osteogenic sarcoma. This clinical trial opens many doors to anyone that has a form of osteogenic sarcoma, because knowledge of what accelerates the cancer at the molecular level can assist in the identification of other targets that could augment