Down Syndrome Offers Clues to Fighting Cancer

May 23, 2009, 5:00AM

People with Down syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21 and a surprisingly low rate of cancer. If you have Down syndrome, your chances of dying from cancer are less than a tenth of the average cancer death rate.

Scientists have long suspected a link between the extra chromosome and low cancer rate, and new tests have revealed one possible explanation: The extra genes may limit growth of new blood vessels, which tumors need to feed and grow.

The researchers, at Children's Hospital Boston, found a gene on chromosome 21 that makes a protein called DSCR1. That protein, present in high levels in people with Down syndrome, helps block a chemical that spurs blood vessels to grow in the body. Through tests on mice and human cells, the scientists found out how that protein does its work, and now hope to see whether they can find drugs to block new blood vessels from supporting tumors. The scientists said there may be other genes on the same chromosome that also help block the new vessels, explaining the low Down syndrome cancer rates.

Andy Dworkin - The Oregonian