The Role of Mutational Signatures in the Development of Childhood Cancer

CBTN Data

966

CBTN Participants

Backer

Research Training Award for Cancer Prevention Post-Graduate Training Program in Integrative Epidemiology from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

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About this

Project

Cancer is the major cause of childhood mortality worldwide. In an effort to propel discovery of new treatments forward, researchers need a comprehensive molecular understanding of pediatric cancer types. This project seeks to do just that, expanding the overall understanding of pediatric brain cancers and how to treat them. Recently, researchers have identified mutational signatures from catalogues of mutations in adult cancers. However, the role of these genetic signatures in the development of childhood cancer is largely unknown. The purpose of the proposed project is to investigate the importance of these signatures in childhood tumors and to identify new mutational signatures specifically for pediatric cancers that can be utilized in the development of more effective treatments with less long term effects.

Ask The

Scientists

What are the goals of this project?

Previous work has identified mutational signatures in adult cancers that have opened the door to new therapies. This project aims to investigate if these signatures could also play a role in developing treatments for pediatric brain cancers.

What is the impact of this project?

This research is working towards expanding that knowledge base on pediatric brain tumors in the pursuit of new treatments.

Why is the CBTN request important to this project?

Research similar to the work proposed here has been done on adult cancers and progress has been made, through access to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas, researchers can greatly expand their work to the field of pediatric cancers.