New Discovery May Unhurried Progression of Aggressive Childhood Cancer
Researchers at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem may have found a new way to combat neuroblastoma, a dangerous form of childhood cancer, by targeting a specific enzyme that drives tumor growth. While the research is currently in its early stages, the findings offer a promising new direction for treatment.
The study, published in the scientific journal Brain Medicine, focuses on the role of the enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). According to the researchers, nNOS helps cancer cells survive and proliferate by activating the mTOR signal—essentially the cell’s “growth command.” This signal is responsible for determining whether a cell should divide, produce new proteins, or conserve energy, based on available nutrients, energy levels, and growth hormones.
To test whether disabling this enzyme could hinder the cancer, the research team employed two distinct strategies: chemical inhibition to directly block the enzyme’s activity, and gene blocking using small RNA molecules to prevent the cells from producing the enzyme altogether. Both methods yielded the same result: the cancer cells grew more slowly, became weaker, and lost several of the characteristics typical of malignant cells.
These findings are particularly significant given the nature of neuroblastoma. The disease begins during fetal development when specific nerve cells—which would normally develop into the sympathetic nervous system or adrenal tissue—diverge and transform into cancer cells. These cells may not grow visible until months later.
Neuroblastoma accounts for nearly 30 percent of all childhood cancer diagnoses across Europe and the United States. The progression of the disease varies significantly; while some cases are less severe and resolve on their own, other forms are highly aggressive, spreading rapidly and becoming life-threatening. Because high-risk versions of neuroblastoma are associated with low survival rates, there is an urgent necessitate for innovative therapeutic options.
By identifying a way to “switch off” a critical growth signal, this research underscores the potential for new targeted therapies to improve outcomes for children facing high-risk diagnoses.
