Projects
Can Genetic Mutations Be Specifically Targeted for Neuroblastoma?
By understanding the genetic features of a tumor, researchers are able to use specific drugs that interfere with certain cell processes that cause unrestricted growth. This is the first precision medicine trial for children that will robustly analyze the genomics and epigenomics of cancer and use combinations of investigational drugs to target specific mutations and…
Read MoreCan a Child’s T-Cells be Engineered to Better Recognize and Kill Neuroblastoma Cells Safely?
Solving Kids’ Cancer supported the preclinical work that led to this current clinical trial using a CAR T-cell therapy approach with the goal of bringing these early successes in blood cancers to children with neuroblastoma and other solid tumors. This new method enhances proliferation and persistence and a safety switch. Project Title: Activated T-Cells Transduced…
Read MoreWill a New Drug That Stops Cell Repair Reduce Tumors in Children When Given With Chemotherapy?
Researchers at CHOP identified an enzyme that plays a key role in controlling the cell cycle a called checkpoint kinase or CHK1. The Wee1 inhibitor MK-1775 works with irinotecan to stop cell division and cause cell death. This combination drug treatment is being tested in children with neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. Project Title: Ph I/II MK-1775…
Read MoreWill an Antibody Recognizing a New Target in Neuroblastoma Kill Tumor Cells?
In the lab, an antibody targeting ALK expression kills neuroblastoma cells. Researchers believe that an anti-ALK antibody that targets the surface antigen will alert the immune system to attack the cancer, reducing the risk of a future recurrence. This research is to develop, test, and produce clinical grade anti-ALK antibody. Project Title: Preclinical Development of…
Read MoreCan Chemotherapy Be Delivered to the Brainstem in Children?
Solving Kids’ Cancer supported this new trial, which delivers chemotherapy directly into the vertebrobasilar system, because it represents a novel way to treat the disease by targeting the blood supply to these tumors. This delivery method allows doctors to increase the dose of the drug to kill the cancer, while minimizing toxicity in other parts…
Read MoreCan a Vaccine Made From a Child’s Immune Cells Work Against Deadly Brain Tumors?
This new treatment targets glioma-associated antigens, which are overexpressed in ependymomas, making them ideal candidates for the immunotherapy researchers previously developed. This cutting-edge research represents the first immunotherapy trial ever for kids with ependymomas. Project Title: Pilot Study Peptide-based vaccination for recurrent ependymomas Researcher: Ian F. Pollack, MD Institution: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Study Type:…
Read MoreCan Engineered T-Cells Be Improved to Better Recognize and Attack Neuroblastoma Cells?
T-cell therapy has seen much success in leukemia patients. Researchers now are trying to find out if T-cell therapy using the GD2 tumor antigen, which is on the surface of the neuroblastoma cancer cells, can bring about remission in solid tumors. Project Title: Adoptive Cell Therapy for Adolescent/pediatric Solid Tumors: Part II Researcher: Stephen Grupp,…
Read MoreWill Combining NK Cells From a Parent With a Humanized Antibody Be More Effective in Treating Neuroblastoma and Osteosarcoma?
Solving Kids’ Cancer supported this trial because researchers use a humanized monoclonal antibody known as hu14.18-IL2, which specifically targets neuroblastoma tumor cells and binds to them. The humanized monoclonal antibody may be more effective at activating the NK cells for killing the cancer cells. Project Title: hu14.18/IL-2 + KIR ligand mismatch natural killer cells Researcher:…
Read MoreCan T-Cells Be Engineered to Attack More Types of Pediatric Solid Tumors?
Researchers optimized the activity of a CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) constructed that targets GD2, an antigen on the surface of neuroblastoma to modify T cells for use in a future clinical trial. Project Title: Adoptive Cell Therapy for Adolescent/Pediatric Solid Tumors: Part I Researcher: Rimas Orentas, PhD Institution: National Cancer Institute Pediatric Oncology Branch Study…
Read MoreCan We Improve the Potency and Persistence of a Child’s T-Cells to Recognize and Kill Neuroblastoma Cells?
Solving Kids’ Cancer supported this work to develop a new and improved type of GD2-CAR T cells, and this work has advanced to a Phase I clinical trial also supported by Solving Kids’ Cancer. Project Title: Improving GD2 T-cell Immunotherapy for Patients with Neuroblastoma Researcher: Chrystal Louis, MD Institution: Baylor College of Medicine Study Type:…
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