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Send to friendLSI faculty member and Director of the U-M Center for Stem Cell Biology, Dr. Sean Morrison, received a $50,000 grant from The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to study a specific type of malignant tumor related to the disease Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). NF1 is a condition, marked most commonly by the formation of benign tumors throughout the peripheral nervous system that affects approximately 1 in every 4,000 people. Symptoms normally begin to appear by age 10. Though most cases are mild, the disease can lead to disfigurement, learning disabilities, blindness, skeletal abnormalities, loss of limbs and, occasionally, lethal malignancies. These potentially lethal malignancies are the subject of this 1-year research, “Tumorigenic Cells in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors” will explore the development of these very aggressive, therapy resistant cancers. NF1 causes benign tumors to grow around peripheral nerves in some patients. These benign tumors, neurofibromas, arise from a special type of cell found in nerve fibers called Schwann cells. In a minority of NF1 patients, these neurofibromas may continue to progress to malignancy in the form of MPNSTs. The Morrison lab, with the proceeds from this grant, will seek to determine how the MPNSTs proliferate: are these tumors formed by a small minority of rogue cancer stem cells, or are many MPNST cells tumorigenic - able to sustain tumor growth. “The question of whether a cancer has rare or common tumorigenic cells has fundamental implications for therapeutic strategies,” says Dr. Morrison. “If only rare MPNST cells have the potential to contribute to disease, then therapies should target these rare cells, whereas if many MPNST cells can proliferate extensively, then therapies must eliminate all MPNST cells. This grant will help us determine which is the case for MPNSTs.” By knowing which cells are responsible for tumor formation and progression, scientists may begin to develop more successful and targeted therapeutic strategies. Bruce and Beverly Shriver, co-founders of the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, said they are delighted to fund the work of Dr. Morrison and hope that his results will be stepping-stones to be used by others finding a cure for sarcoma. The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative works to improve the quality of life for people dealing with sarcoma by increasing public awareness, raising funds to award research grants, and providing support and timely information to sarcoma patients, their families, and medical professionals. Support for this grant was made possible in part by the family and friends of James Stulce. For more information:
