Deciphering RNA modifications and functional characterization of RNA modification enzymes in Medulloblastoma

Brain cancer in young people is an aggressive form of cancer. Young people with brain cancer have very poor chance of survival. WHO estimate that almost 45-60% of people with brain cancer do not survive. Brain cancer in young people is divided into subgroups and it has impact on success of cancer treatment. Subgroups also impact the choice of drugs and therapy methods. Hence, diagnosis of young people with accurate subgroup of cancer in a timely manner is very important. Special proteins produced by body regulate addition, removal and detection of certain chemical changes in cell. This process alters the functions of cells and tissues. Changes in protein levels in people with cancer can change levels of chemical changes on RNA. When these protein levels increase or decrease in the cell, it can lead to poor survival. We will use computer software to analyze data from CBTN to measure levels of proteins change between children with cancer and normal children. We will use special software to measure difference in chemical changes on RNA and compare it with normal children data to identify cancer specific changes. We plan to identify the influence of protein levels on time of survival of different subgroups of cancer. This will help us in identifying targets for designing better drugs that can increase survival of children with cancer.