The Role of Mutational Signatures in the Development of Childhood Cancer

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.