New supportive treatment option for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft-tissue tumour in children. It is a tumour of mesenchymal origin that closely resembles skeletal muscle cells. Two types are classically distinguished: alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Both tumour types have in common that differentiation into postmitotic skeletal muscle cells is inhibited although they have the general capability for myogenic differentiation. Differentiating proliferating tumour cells into differentiated, non-dividing myotubes or muscle fibres could represent a new supportive approach in the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma. A group of researchers led by Julia von Maltzahn at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and the Leibniz Institute on Aging (FLI) have found a way to convert embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells into differentiated postmitotic muscle cells. The Wilhelm Sander Foundation supported this project with EUR 185,000.