Turning off switch to brain tumors.

• Position: Malignancy - Brief article

A cellular switch that potentially can be turned off and on to slow down and eventually inhibit the growth of the most commonly diagnosed and aggressive malignant brain tumor has been identified by researchers at VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas.

Findings of the investigation show that the protein RIP1 acts as a mediator of brain tumor cell survival, either protecting or destroying cells. Researchers believe that the protein, found in most glioblastomas, can be targeted to develop a drug treatment for these highly malignant brain tumors.

"Our study identifies a new mechanism involving RIP1 that regulates cell division and death in glioblastomas," says neurologist and senior author Amyn Habib. "For individuals with glioblastomas, this finding identified a target for the development of a drug treatment option that currently does not exist."

In the study, researchers used models to examine the interactions of the cell receptor...