A MUM has called research into new drug combination which could target an incurable infant cancer that killed her young daughter "promising steps forward".

Grace Kelly, from Crowle, near Worcester, died of a malignant rhabdoid tumour on November 8, 2014 aged just four years old.

In a matter of weeks Jennifer and Gareth Kelly's daughter went from an energetic little girl who had just started school to being diagnosed with the cancer.

After her death, the family set up Grace Kelly Ladybird Trust to raise money for research and treatment of malignant rhabdoid tumours.

The family welcomed the research by scientists working for the Institute of Cancer Research which identified a drug combination that could be effective against the childhood cancer for which there is no current cure.

Using cancer cells isolated in a laboratory, they identified a new way to target malignant rhabdoid tumours — which usually develops in the kidneys, and is most common in infants and toddlers.

Important clues were found for why these cancers are so difficult to treat, and pointers to new targeted treatments that might be more effective and with fewer side-effects than chemotherapy.

Malignant rhabdoid tumours do not normally respond to standard chemotherapy and, when they do, they usually become resistant to treatment.

Children who develop these cancers are usually just over a year old, and most die within a year of diagnosis.

Mrs Kelly said: "This recent research shows some very promising steps forward in terms of researching the type of tumour that Grace had.

"At the Grace Kelly Ladybird trust, we have been delighted to work with the Institute of Cancer Research in London to help raise awareness of this research.

"Rhabdoid tumours are rare but highly aggressive childhood cancers, but the hope is that the theory behind this molecular breakthrough could then be applied to other less aggressive tumour types.

"Since Grace died, she has now raised almost £105,000.

"She wanted more than anything to look after others, and this is what we are striving to do as a charity.

"We are fighting to fund more research, but also to raise awareness of childhood cancers to aid earlier diagnosis as well."

Scientists have identified two genes which seemed to play an important role in driving growth of the cancers.

The team found that proteins produced by the genes were present at high levels in malignant rhabdoid tumours.

In a lab study using cancer cells, they inhibited the proteins by targeting them with drugs that are in use or in development to treat other types of cancer.

Inhibiting just one protein had little effect, but eliminating both — with drugs that could target them simultaneously — disrupted and ultimately killed cancer cells.

The results also explained why in most cases tumours become resistant to therapy, even if it works for a short time initially.

Study leader Dr Paul Huang, team leader of the Protein Networks Team at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “The prognosis for infants with this type of cancer is dismal and we urgently need to find new ways to treat it.

"For the first time, we have identified weaknesses in this rare, devastating cancer that can be targeted with drugs. "At the moment there are not many options for the children with malignant rhabdoid tumours but our findings give new pointers to doctors that could be used to shape treatment of patients."

The next step in the research will be to test combinations of drugs, or new drugs that target both proteins, in mouse models of the disease, to provide the evidence needed to start a clinical trial.

Professor Paul Workman, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “This study shows that a combination of two existing targeted drugs could treat malignant rhabdoid tumours – and is an example of the potential for tailored combinations of drugs to block signalling networks in many cancer types.

“It provides an exciting pointer for how we might treat more effectively an aggressive childhood cancer for which there is currently no cure.

"We need to see much better, more targeted treatments for children with cancer, that further drive up survival rates and spare children the serious long-term side-effects that conventional chemotherapy can cause.

"It’s crucial, when — as here — there is a strong scientific rationale for a new treatment approach in children, that we can assess them as rapidly as possible in clinical trials.

"At the moment, it’s much too easy for pharmaceutical companies to avoid evaluating their drugs in children, even when there is good evidence that they could benefit.”

Mrs Kelly thanked people in Worcestershire for their help fundraising and for spreading Grace's message.

The charity hopes to raise more to fund research through sales of Christmas cards, its Christmas jumper day and is keen to get involved with businesses looking for charities to support across a year.

For more information please visit gracekellyladybird.co.uk