Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine

6621 Fannin

Houston, TX 77030

United States

MYCN-induced molecular clock disruption and metabolic rewiring drive neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the leading causes of pediatric cancer mortality. Despite advances in therapy, the survival rate for relapsed NB patients is dismal. MYCN is a major genetic driver for NB disease progression and relapse. However, targeting MYCN directly remains challenging, and novel therapeutic approaches against MYCN warrant in-depth investigations. Our lab has shown that MYCN profoundly rewires the way NB utilizes nutrients--specifically lipids--to drive oncogenesis. This function is effectively opposed by a core component of the circadian clock called BMAL1.

Reducing ethnic disparities in acute leukemia (REDIAL) consortium

Leukemia

Mentor Name: Philip Lupo

IL7 signaling enhanced CAR T cells to treat pediatric solid tumors

Hepatoblastoma

Mentor Name: Andras Heczey

Synthetic Gene Expression Regulatory Switches (SynGERS) for Improved CAR T Cell Function in Pediatric Solid Tumors

Wilms Tumor, Hepatoblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma

Immunotherapy using genetically engineered special white blood cells has revolutionized the treatment of children and adults with blood cancers including leukemias and lymphomas. This strategy has great potential to cure children with solid cancers; however, these tumors use mechanisms to inhibit the engineered white blood cells. When engineered cells lose their functionality in solid tumors, their program changes in response to the cancer cells. In this application, we will introduce mini programs into tumor-redirected white blood cells with the goal of overcoming solid tumors.

Synthetic Gene Expression Regulatory Switch engineered CAR T cells for children with cancer

Hepatoblastoma

Mentor Name: Andras Heczey

Protecting "off-the-shelf" NK cell therapies from rejection

Neuroblastoma

Mentor Name: Robin Parihar

Understanding Factors Contributing to Retention in Care among Children with Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa.

General Pediatric Cancer

Mentor Name: Mark Zobeck

DEFINING GENETIC DRIVER MUTATIONS,CLINIC CHARACTERISTICS & OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS WITH HISTIOCYTOSES

General Pediatric Cancer

Mentor Name: Will Parsons

Function and Dependency of NFkB Activity in ZFTA-RELA Fusion Ependymoma

Ependymoma

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer related death in children. Ependymoma is an aggressive pediatric brain tumor resistant to chemotherapy, with treatment limited to surgical resection and radiation.

Turning Killers into THINKers: TME Hostility-Impervious NK Cells for Treating Neuroblastoma and Sarcoma

Ewing Sarcoma, Neuroblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma

Despite attempts to improve treatment over the last few decades, children with advanced neuroblastoma or muscle or bone sarcoma continue to die from their disease. New treatments are sorely needed. Therapies that utilize the immune system to fight cancer, such as use of immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells, have shown promise in the lab. Their ability to cure patients, however, has been limited by a powerful tumor environment that inhibits the immune system.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer