Down syndrome gene may provide clue in cancer fight

"It's an important scientific study," she said. "It's not a cure, but it's a significant step toward one because it shows that the extra copies of a gene in people with Down's helps keep tumors from feeding and growing."

The next step in the research could well reveal more ways to fight tumors in general and lead to more evidence that will be the basis of new cancer treatments.

Korenberg and colleagues at Harvard and elsewhere used a new kind of embryonic-like stem cell — the body's master cell — called an induced pluripotent stem cell or iPS cell made from ordinary skin.

Combing the iPS cells from a Down syndrome volunteer and genetically engineered mice, the researcher pinpointed how the gene protects against tumors.

These cells made from ordinary skin can be transformed to act like powerful stem cells, the body's master cells.

In summing up the findings, the authors noted that they found the results inspiring, both in their potential benefit to cancer research and that the insight is being provided by a sector of the population regularly designated as "special."

Folkman also noticed how rare cancer is among Down syndrome patients, except for leukemia, and he wondered whether the genes explain why. A study of nearly 18,000 Down's patients showed they had 10 percent the expected rate of cancer.Korenberg is also inspired by the influence of her mentor, the late Dr. Judah Folkman at Harvard, whose theories about how tumor cells grow blood vessels to nourish themselves in a process known as angiogenesis

E-mail:jthalman@desnews.com