Projects we fund

Overview

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a childhood cancer that develops in muscle. There are around 50 new cases a year in the UK. Although there has been some improvement in survival, a third of patients cannot be cured and new insights to the disease, and new approaches to treatment, are desperately needed. The risk of RMS is known to be increased by the presence of certain genetic conditions. These conditions are caused by mutations in genes that are generally important for growth and development before and after birth. Many of these mutations give rise to recognisable birth defects but some defects may be very mild, making them difficult to detect. Some mutations can also cause cancers other than RMS in children and adults. However, in families where the parents and even grandparents of children newly diagnosed with RMS are relatively young, these cancers may not have had time to develop. As a result, the research team believe that some hereditary cases of RMS are not recognised. Whilst there have been previous studies looking for mutations in known genes in RMS patients with recognisable birth defects or a family history of cancer, no previous study has looked for mutations in all children with RMS. The team will select 64 children with RMS on whom they already have stored blood samples and detailed information, collected as part of an earlier study. They will analyse DNA from each blood sample, looking for mutations in genes known to be important for RMS development. Where they do not find mutations in known genes, they will extend the search to look for mutations in all other genes. In the latter, they will also sequence DNA from the parents, to help determine whether what they find may be significant. They will then analyse information on the children concerned, and their families, to see what can be learned about the effects of the mutations.

What difference will this project make?

Rhabdomyosarcoma is an important cause of childhood cancer death. Children’s response to treatment, and likelihood of cure, may be affected by the presence of certain genetic mutations and the findings of this project may therefore direct new, personalised treatment strategies which could save the lives of young patients with rhabdomyosarcoma.