Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Background

Medulloblastomas, the most common solid malignant pediatric tumor, arise in the developing cerebellum, a part of the brain controlling posture and coordination which develops during childhood. These tumors are currently treated with surgery, cranio-spinal radiation, and chemotherapy. Survivors suffer devastating life-long side effects due to the damage these treatments do to the still-developing brain, and metastasis and recurrence are lethal.

Brain tumors are the most common solid cancers in children. Medulloblastoma is the most common aggressive childhood brain tumor and has many treatment-related effects including stunted growth, impaired ability to think and learn, and damage to other normal brain functions. Tumor spread to distant sites within and outside the brain is associated with poor survival. In addition, if medulloblastoma re-appears after treatment, there are no therapies currently available that can help. The cancer-causing gene WIP1 is expressed at high levels in over 50% of medulloblastomas.