Hereditary Multiple Exostoses Research
This microscopic image shows the exostosis formation along the growth plate of the cranial base synchondrosis.
Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is a pediatric skeletal disease characterized by benign tumors called exostoses that form next to the growth areas of the skeleton in children and young adults.
The tumors can cause a number of health problems including growth retardation, skeletal deformities, chronic pain and early onset osteoarthritis. Over time, some exostoses can become malignant and life-threatening.
Our researchers have created experimental models of the disease, are studying the mechanisms by which the exostoses form and grow, and are devising drug- and gene-based therapies to prevent exostosis formation.
Once available, these therapies could be used in combination with surgical removal of preexisting exostoses to provide definitive and effective treatments of this potentially severe disease.
This research is supported by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, and is part of national and international cooperative research efforts with scientists and clinicians in California, Texas and Italy.
Primary investigators on this study: Maurizio Pacifici, PhD; Eiki Koyama, DDS, PhD, and Motomi Enomoto-Iwamoto, DDS, PhD
Reviewed by: Maurizio Pacifici, PhD