Biology of Pediatric Cancer

At the most basic level, childhood cancer is a perpetual threat, boldly challenging scientists to understand its complexities. Investigators are working to expand the understanding of childhood cancer and to improve strategies for its diagnosis and treatment. Current projects focus on biology and therapy of rhabdomyosarcoma and other childhood tumors, chemotherapy of childhood solid tumors, regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing, regulation and function of tumor suppressor genes, and oncolytic viral therapy in pediatric brain tumors.

Faculty Focused on Biology of Pediatric Cancer Research

• Hakan Cam, PhD
• Dawn S. Chandler, PhD
• Long-Sheng Chang, PhD
• Peter Houghton, PhD
• Robert A. Johnson, PhD
• Katsumi Kitagawa, PhD
• Risa Kitagawa, PhD
• Jiayuh Lin, PhD
• Corey Raffel, MD, PhD

Learn more about the Center for Childhood Cancer

Latest Findings in Biology of Pediatric Cancer Research

Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma Cells With ErbB Inhibitors
Recent evidence has implicated increased ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in vestibular schwannoma development.  This study supports the belief that chemotherapeutic targeting of ErbB3 may be a novel means of inhibiting vestibular schwannoma growth.

Access an abstract of this study: Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma Cells With ErbB Inhibitors. Otol Neurotol. 2012 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Muscle Induced to Regenerate May Support Tumor Development
Investigators previously reported that mice with muscular dystrophy develop embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (eRMS) with a low incidence after 1 year of age and that almost all such tumors contain cancer-associated p53 mutations. These studies further suggest that consideration should be given to the potential of the muscle microenvironment to support tumor development in regenerative therapies for myopathies.

Access an abstract of this study: Induction of a regenerative microenvironment in skeletal muscle is sufficient to induce embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in p53-deficient mice. J Pathol. 2012 Jan;226(1):40-9. doi: 10.1002/path.2996.

IGF-2 May Reverse Angiogenesis, Its Role in Tumor Progression
Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels in the body, is an important natural process in the body used for healing and reproduction.  Disturbed angiogenesis can lead to cancer development.  For the first time, this study reveals a role for IGF-1R signaling in angiogenesis and direct activity of SCH717454. IGF-2 overcame these effects.  Since many childhood cancers secrete IGF-2, these findings suggest that IGF-2 plays a role in tumor progression.  

Access an abstract of this study:  Potent Inhibition of Angiogenesis by the IGF-1 Receptor-Targeting Antibody SCH717454 is Reversed by IGF-2. Mol Cancer Ther. 2011 Dec 21. [Epub ahead of print]

AR42, A Potential Therapy for Vestibular Schwannomas and Meningiomas?
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) causes bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) and multiple meningiomas. Treatment options for NF2-associated tumors are limited, and to date, no medical therapies are FDA approved. The ideal chemotherapeutic agent would inhibit both VS and meningiomas simultaneously. This study tests the ability of AR42 to inhibit VS and meningioma growth.

Access an abstract of this study: AR42, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, as a potential therapy for vestibular schwannomas and meningiomas. Neuro Oncol. 2011 Sep;13(9):983-99. 

Current Biology of Pediatric Cancer Grants

Molecular targeting in non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Julie Gastier-Foster)

Translation of Predictive Cancer Biomarkers into Clinical Practice, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (Julie Gastier-Foster)

Genomics of Racial Disparities in Childhood Leukemia Outcomes, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Julie Gastier-Foster)

Analysis of Study Drug Signaling Pathway in PBMC and Tumors at Diagnosis or Recurrence, Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati (Peter Houghton)

Translation of Predictive Cancer Biomarkers into Clinical Practice, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (Julie Gastier-Foster)

Novel Small Molecules Disabling the IL-6/IL-6R/GP130 Complex, The Ohio State University Research Foundation (Jiayuh Lin)

Pharmacogenomics of Anticancer Agents Research in Children, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Julie Gastier-Foster)

Characterization of an Inducible SMN mouse model and the determination of SMA therapeutic intervention points, Association Francaise Contre Les Myopathies (Dawn S. Chandler, PhD)

Phenotypic Determinants in Vestibular Schwannomas, Ohio State University Research Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders (Long-Sheng Chang, PhD)

Study of the IGF-1R Antibody in Pediatric Sarcoma Xenograft Models, Anonymous (Peter Houghton, PhD)

Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (Peter Houghton, PhD)

Studies of Childhood Solid Tumors, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (Peter Houghton, PhD)

Target Stat3 in pancreatic cancer using novel small molecule inhibitors, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (Jiayuh Lin, PhD)

Pelotonia Postdoctoral Fellowship: Dual Targeting of the Type 1 Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor and its Ligands as an Effective Anti-angiogenic Strategy for Sarcomas, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (Peter Houghton, PhD)

Kinetochore Function and Cell Cycle Progression, National Institutes of Health (Katsumi Kitagawa, PhD)