What causes ACC?
ACC/DCC does not have a single cause. In fact, there are multiple factors that may be involved in disrupting the formation of the corpus callosum. Among the suggested causal factors are genetics, metabolic disorders, and structural interruptions. Brain cells may not get the chemical guidance needed to grow in the right direction, possibly because of a faulty gene. Similarly, the nerve cells may not reach their destination due to lack of oxygen, poor nutrition, toxic chemicals (for example, alcohol or drugs), infections, or metabolic disturbance. Finally, the development of the corpus callosum may be stopped by some other developmental process that interrupts the initial crossing-point of callosal fibers. In these individuals, DCC may be accompanied by cysts or lipomas. There are no known medical conditions in which DCC is always present.
Currently, there is no known cause for adenoid cystic carcinoma. Cancer researchers point to genetic mutations as the underlying cause of all cancers. Only a small portion (perhaps 10%) of cancers is believed to be inherited, and ACC is not one of these inheritable cancers. Rather, as with the vast majority of cancers, ACC appears to develop from genetic mutations caused by a person´s environment, such as through exposure to radiation or carcinogens. Unlike some other cancers of the head and neck, ACC is not linked to tobacco or alcohol use or infection by the human papilloma virus. Once researchers are able to identify the underlying genetic mutations that lead to a particular cancer, they may try to develop therapies that target the pathways used by the cancerous cells. ACCRF´s Research Agenda seeks to improve our understanding of the disease in order to accelerate the development of effective therapies.
