Differentiation Induction effects of thyroid hormone on tumor cells from atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor and diffuse midline gliomas

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Our research has found that tumor cells in certain pediatric brain cancers, such as medulloblastoma, still have the ability to mature into normal nerve cells. When this happens, the tumor cells stop growing. We discovered that thyroid hormone, a natural hormone in the body, can trigger this process of maturation, both in laboratory experiments and in animal models. This approach is different from chemotherapy—it works by “reprogramming” tumor cells instead of killing them, potentially leading to fewer side effects. In this project, we aim to test whether thyroid hormone can also help treat other aggressive childhood brain tumors, including atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG). Access to tumor cell lines from CBTN is critical for this work, as our institution does not treat these patients directly.