Final Activity Report Summary - hSNF5/INI1 DIFF (The Role of the Rhabdoid Tumor Suppressor hSNF5/INI1 in Cell Differentiation)
This project aimed to discover the origins of and biological mechanisms behind malignant rhabdoid tumours (MRTs), a rare but deadly form of childhood cancer. Using state of the art genomic techniques we discovered that MRTs originated from a type of adult stem cell located throughout the body and that, whilst each tumour might appear very different when looked at under a microscope and whilst they occurred at different parts of the body, they were fundamentally the same type of cancer, caused by the same genetic mutations, in the same type of cells. By thorough analysis we were able to identify some of the underlying mechanisms which caused MRT cells to divide uncontrollably and, thus, we were able to bring the possibility of a novel therapy and a better cure much closer.