doc_text: A form of blood cancer that strikes children appears to be sometimes linked with genetic damage that hinders the body's ability to make interferon, according to a study published today.
  The researchers speculate that genes that oversee the body's production of interferon, a disease-fighting substance, may play a role in warding off the development of cancer.
  The researchers speculate that the interferon genes may act as regulators that stop the body's cells from becoming cancerous.
  The researchers, based at the University of Chicago, found an association between loss of the genes and development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood leukemia.
  They tested 62 patients with this kind of leukemia and found that 29 percent of them were missing the interferon genes.
  Their work, directed by Dr. Manuel O. Diaz, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
  It adds to the growing list of cancers that have been associated with the presence or absence of particular genes.
  Some genes, known oncogenes, are though to trigger cancer.
  Cancer can also occur when other genes, known as anti-oncogenes, are missing.
  Interferon plays a variety of roles in regulating the body's immune defenses and controlling cell growth.
  The production of two forms of interferon, known as alpha and beta-1, are controlled by two genes that are close together on chromosome 9 in the body's library of genes.
  In the latest work, the researchers found that this section of the chromosome was frequently missing in those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
  However, they left open the possibility that some other gene in this region besides those that make interferon could also be the tumor-suppressing gene.
  Acute lymphoblastic leukemia accounts for about one-quarter of all childhood cancers.
  It strikes one in every 30,000 children.
summary_text: Cancer researchers speculate that genes that oversee the body's production of interferon may play a role in warding off cancer development.
  Researchers at the University of Chicago found an association between the loss of these genes and development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood leukemia.
  Some genes, called oncogenes may trigger cancer.
  Cancer may also occur when other genes, known as anti-oncogenes are missing.
  Production of interferon is controlled by two genes (alpha and beta-1) that are close together on chromosome 9.
  Researchers found that this section of the chromosome was frequently missing in those with lymphoblastic leukemia.