Researchers identify developmental stage for eye tumor in children

Researchers have been able to pinpoint the exact stage of development of the human retina, when cells can grow out of control and form cancer-like masses. The investigation represents the first of its kind by identifying the phase of human retinal development when specific cells called cone precursors may turn cancerous. The team of investigators […]

Researchers have been able to pinpoint the exact stage of development of the human retina, when cells can grow out of control and form cancer-like masses.

The investigation represents the first of its kind by identifying the phase of human retinal development when specific cells called cone precursors may turn cancerous.

The team of investigators at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), USA said the finding could open the door for future interventions in retinoblastoma (RB), a tumor of the retina that affects children under five.

Over 2,300 children under five die annually in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Adebola Akinsulirie, a Consultant Paediatrician, at the Oncology Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), about four or five cases of childhood cancer are seen monthly at the LUTH.

She said that amounts to about 50 children in a year, adding that it is a lot and big as far as cancer in children is concerned.

The Medical Director at the Vision Center at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, David Cobrinik, said “understanding this phase of development and what goes wrong can help us find ways to intervene and eventually prevent retinoblastoma.”

“Although rare, retinoblastoma is the most common malignant tumor of the eye in children and can lead to devastating vision loss. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, CHLA is considered a world leader in the research and treatment of the disease, which can be fatal if not diagnosed early.”

In a prior breakthrough in 2014 that led to this study, the CHLA researchers identified cone precursor cells as the cell-of-origin of retinoblastoma. Cone cells, found in the retina, are responsible for colour vision.

Lead author and postdoctoral research fellow, Hardeep Singh, Ph.D., found that developmental stage-specific proliferation and formation of retinoblastoma occurred in RB-deficient human cone precursors but not in mouse precursors.

The animal models failed to replicate the genetic, cellular, and developmental features of human retinal cells. This finding calls into question the accuracy of certain animal retinoblastoma models.

Retinoblastoma was one of the first tumors to have its genetic cause identified.