Ruth Palmer wants to develop a treatment that can help children affected by cancer. In focus is the receptor ALK which should be active during cells growth and division in embryos. Then it should be turned off. But in some cases, mutations occur and cause ALK to turn on again, which can cause various types of cancer.
Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that usually affects children under one year of age. One of the deadliest forms of neuroblastoma was found to be caused by active ALK receptors. Palmer’s team at the University of Gothenburg have found a molecule that, combined with an ALK-inhibitor, has cured neuroblastoma in mice, they hope now to develop a treatment that that will work in humans.