Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Background

Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of childhood cancer death, with gliomas being the most common diagnoses. The drugs that are currently used to treat this target BRAFV600E mutation, found in a subset of glioma cancers and causes aberrant cell signaling. Previous studies, however, have shown that monotherapy against the BRAF600E mutation leads to feedback activation of other cellular pathways known the increase tumor proliferation, and ultimately build resistance against BRAFV600E targeted treatment.

Background

Background

Cancer takes the lives of more children than any other disease and leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer. African-American children with leukemia die more often than children of other races with leukemia. The reasons for this difference between African-American and Caucasian children are unknown. While there are many possible causes of this difference, we have found in previous research that African-American children come to the hospital sicker than Caucasian children prior to the start of chemotherapy.

Background

Background

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid childhood cancer, accounting for 15% of all cancer deaths in children. Targeted therapies hold promise to improve the outcome for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, however this issue remains challenging. Amplification of the MYCN oncogene occurs in half of high-risk patients.