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Massachusetts General Hospital

55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 2114
United States

Background

Background

Background

Background

Genome instability and drug resistance are hallmark features of cancer, especially neuroblastoma. We have recently uncovered the first enzyme KDM4A capable of generating site-specific copy gains of regions linked to drug resistance and hard to treat cancer, which provides a novel tool to carefully interrogate the molecular features affiliated with copy gains.

Background

Medulloblastoma is the most common childhood brain tumor. It arises in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls coordination and movement. The standard treatment regimen consists of surgery, followed by a combination of intensive radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy of the central nervous system in children is associated with severe side effects, including impaired cognitive function, neuroendocrine dysfunctions and secondary cancers. Currently, there is no treatment for resistant or relapsing tumors.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Current standard of the care of medulloblastoma is a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While this aggressive treatment regiment can potentially cure the disease, treatment-induced morbidities are devastating and furthermore, one third of patients relapse despite the treatment. Currently, there are no alternative therapies available for patients with recurrent tumors.

Background


The aggressive and unpredictable behavior of relapsed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) presents a major clinical challenge, as relapsed disease continues to have a dismal prognosis in both children and adults. A major hurdle in the development of new chemotherapies is identifying drugs that specifically kill malignant T cells, while leaving normal cells untouched.

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