Developing brain cancer might be linked to head traumas
March 21, 2023 | Histopathology
Evidence regarding the molecular association between head injuries and increased risk for brain tumors have been lacking and undetermined.
A research team, led by Prof. Simona Parrinello of the Cancer Institute from the University College London (UCL), discovered a possible mechanism that could explain the contribution of head traumas to the development of glioma, a rare but often aggressive form of brain tumor. This mechanism included genetic mutations that co-occur during brain tissue inflammation. This causes a change in behavior of cells, increasing their likelihood to become cancerous. Even though the study was largely done on mice, its implications exhibit relevance to human gliomas.
Fortuitously, the overall risk of developing glioma is low even after an injury, estimated at less than 1% of the population over a lifetime.