Researchers at the Hunstman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have brought forth the possibility of a drug tht could help increase the survival rate of children and adolescents diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma. Their research, just published in the journal Oncogene, shows that patients with poor outcomes have tumors with high level of proteins called GSTM4, which might suppress the effects of chemotherapy.

The current rate of survival for children and adolescents with Ewing's sarcoma is poor, resting around 30 percent with the best diagnostics.

The new research could lead to drugs that can suppress that GSTM4 protein in certain patients. Researchers also hope that their discovery will help in the diagnostic procedures of other patients.

Stephen Lessnick, HCI investigator, says the next step in research is to focus on testing and treatments that may lead to better survival rates.

"Personalized medicine is the next frontier in the battle against cancer," Lessnick stated in ScienceBlog. "We now know all cancers are not the same. By focusing on how these proteins are expressed in individual tumors, we may soon be able to offer the treatment that will work best for each patient, and that could lead to higher cure rates."

To read the full article, click here: http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/new-hope-deadly-childhood-bone-cancer-24561.html