A team of researchers from the UK and France have identified a link between a chromosomal abnormality and a greater risk of dying in children suffering from a deadly form of brain cancer. The European scientists states that their research results could develop a new diagnostic test more precisely.

A European research funded in part with European funds, and led by the Brain Tumour Research Centre at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, have identified a link between a chromosomal abnormality and a greater risk of dying in children suffering from a deadly form of brain cancer. According to the scientists, their study could also help physicians determine which children with the tumour have a better prognosis and would benefit from less intensive treatments. In August 2011, EcancerHub, the website was launched to inform about the cancer.

The researchers also suggest that it is possible that the death rate has not dropped because they could not accurately predict which tumours could be more aggressive than others. For this reason, they defend their findings that could help scientists develop a new diagnostic test for identifying young patients who are at the highest risk associated with an ependymoma tumour, and who may require more aggressive treatments to save their life.

While ependymomas are tumours of the brain that know no age limits, children are more at risk of being diagnosed with them. And while treatments have improved over the years, around 40% of the young patients die.