What role do small pieces of genetic code play in germ cell tumours, and how could this improve treatment?

Malignant germ cell tumours (GCTs) are cancers that affects children and young people. They usually grow in the ovaries and testes, which make egg and sperm cells, but are also found elsewhere in the body. Although most patients with GCTs do well, some high-risk patients have poor outcomes. We need to develop new and effective treatments to give children and young people with these tumours the best chance of survival and a good quality of life.

Professor Matthew Murray and his team at the University of Cambridge are looking at a new way to target GCT cells. They are focusing on molecules called short non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). These molecules affect which proteins cells make and at what levels. This makes sncRNA levels important for cells to get right. Professor Murray’s lab has shown that malignant GCT cells have altered amounts of sncRNAs. The researchers think this could be contributing to the cancer’s growth and aggressiveness.

In this project, Professor Murray’s team will alter the amounts of sncRNAs in GCT cells. They will block sncRNAs that there are too many of and add sncRNAs there are too few of. Prof Murray expects this will restore the levels of important cellular proteins to normal, which should slow tumour growth and aggressiveness.

His team will look at medicines to see which is most effective at balancing sncRNAs. They will also see whether these work well in combination with standard chemotherapy. A combined treatment could use lower doses of chemotherapy, and therefore be safer for patients. Professor Murray hopes any new treatment could ultimately be tested in clinical trials with the aim of improving both survival and quality of life. This type of treatment could also be adapted for other children’s cancers with altered sncRNA levels.