Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) are a group of enzymes shown to be connected to cancer cell growth. Until this point, however, there has been no research into their role in the development of some types of brain tumours and whether specific therapies could be developed that will benefit people with these forms of cancers.
A new study aims to address that by identifying the role ALDH enzymes play in brain tumours - and beginning to explore the most effective ways to target them. The research is being led by PhD researcher Libby Hasell-Williams and Professor of Neuroscience
[STAFFMEMBER]
"> Professor David Parkinson, both working in the University of Plymouth's [ARTICLE]
"> Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence.
A two-year study, it will be supported by the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF). The research will be split into two phases, starting by carrying out a detailed investigation of the role of ALDH1A3 - a type of ALDH enzyme that plays a crucial role in development, metabolism and other biological processes - in the growth of meningioma and schwannoma tumours, two important types of tumour in the human nervous system.
It will then complete a pre-clinical evaluation of three drug compounds that have already been shown to inhibit ALDH in relation to other medical conditions and been identified - through in vitro studies carried out by the research team and elsewhere - as having the potential to be effective in targeting the proliferation and survival of meningioma tumour cells.
Unlike any previous studies, this new work will involve tests into the effectiveness of the drugs on human tumour cell models - taken from the Plymouth Tumour Biobank - and could ultimately result in the expanding and upscaling of drug trials in the future.
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