Researchers Identify Enzyme Involved in Deadly Brain Tumors One
of the most common types of brain tumors in adults, glioblastoma
multiforme, is one of the most devastating. Even with recent
advances in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the aggressive
and invasive tumors become resistant to treatment, and median
survival of patients is only about 15 months. In a study
published in Neuro-Oncology, researchers at Mayo Clinic identify
an important association between the naturally occurring enzyme
Kallikrein 6, also known as KLK6, and the malignant tumors. "Our
study of Kallikrein 6 showed that higher levels of this enzyme
in the tumor are negatively associated with patient survival,
and that the enzyme functions by promoting the survival of tumor
cells," says senior author Isobel Scarisbrick, Ph.D., of Mayo
Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The
findings introduce a new avenue for potential treatment of
deadly glioblastomas: targeting the function of KLK6. The tumor
cells became more