Lund University researchers find potential treatment path for pediatric brain tumors

Researchers at Lund University have identified a potential new pathway for treating pediatric brain tumors. By studying the UM171 molecule—a synthetic compound developed at the University of Montreal to expand blood stem cells—scientists discovered an unexpected link to medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children.

The study found that UM171 works by utilizing a protein called KBTBD4 to trigger the degradation of a cellular structure known as CoREST. This same structural collapse occurs in certain aggressive pediatric brain tumors due to genetic mutations in the KBTBD4 gene, suggesting that the molecule could play a role in future treatment strategies.