Targeting neurodevelopmental pathways in pediatric high-grade gliomas

Pediatric high-grade gliomas are fast-growing brain tumors that occur in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, no effective therapies are currently available for these patients. Surgery is rarely possible because the tumor cells are in close proximity and tangled up with important healthy brain cells. Recently, researchers have found that the tumor cells act in similar ways to immature cells in the growing brain in embryos. In this project, we propose that blocking mechanisms that normally help the brain grow in an embryo might be an effective strategy to halt the growth of these aggressive tumors. We will use a combination of cells isolated from patients and lab-made brain tumors to investigate whether these molecular pathways are necessary for the growth and/or ability of tumor cells to intermingle with the healthy brain. Our hope is that this research will inform the development of new medicines that can effectively stop cancer growth without damaging the healthy brain nor any other part of the body.