signaling system

By revealing the inner workings of a common cell-to-cell signaling system, biologists have uncovered new clues about mysterious and contentious creatures called cancer stem cells.

A new discovery suggests a safer way to treat medulloblastoma, a rare but often fatal childhood brain tumor.

Researchers discovered that proteins BMP2, BMP4 and BMP7 inhibit the growth of medulloblastoma tumors, while inducing malignant cells to develop into normal neurons, a finding that may lead to better treatments for the cancer.