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University of California San Francisco

745 Parnassus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94143
United States

Malignant glioma is a particularly aggressive form of brain tumor found in children and adults. Children with brainstem glioma, for example, live an average of ten months. The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is an overactive protein in a large number of these tumors and is associated with decreased survival. Drugs that block the function of EGFR have been developed but are only marginally effective in patients.

Cure rates for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoma (T-ALL/LL) have gone from 0% to approximately 80% over the past 4 decades. However, this success comes with a price. The incidence of both acute and long-term toxicities of intensive therapy is becoming increasingly common as more children survive their initial cancers. Moreover, despite intensive therapy, a significant number of children still relapse. Unfortunately, virtually none of these children can be cured with current therapy.

Childhood leukemia is the most common cancer in children, and a devastating illness to a child and family. Treatments have improved; however, still too many children die, and those that live face a lifetime of reduced health and uncertainty. Our work is focused on epidemiology and prevention of this disease. We ask questions: what are the aberrations that cause leukemia? How does our environment interact with our bodies to produce these aberrations? When do mutations occur, and in knowing this can we develop early detection tests and prevention strategies such as vaccines?

1. Layman's Title for your Research Project: 

Approaching neuroblastoma therapy by targeting the best characterized genetic abnormality associated with this disease, Mycn.

2.  Research Objectives

What do you hope to achieve through your research and what will it mean to the world of childhood cancer if your project is successful?

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