University of Chicago

University of Chicago

5801 S. Ellis Ave.

Chicago, IL 60637

United States

Circulating Tumor Biomarkers: New Paradigms for Management of Neuroblastoma

Less than half of children with high-risk neuroblastoma are cured with current treatment. There is no way to predict response before giving this highly toxic treatment. Thus, there is a need for new ways to guide treatment choices. We aim to create a robust test using routine blood samples to follow disease and predict which patients will respond to standard treatment. Our team created a new method to find cancer DNA in blood samples. Using this method, we studied blood from children with neuroblastoma.

Mark Applebaum, MD

University of Chicago

Elucidating the role of 5-hydroxymethylcitosine for the function of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2

Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

Mentor Name: Mark Applebaum

Genome-Wide 5hmC Profiling of Neuroblastoma Tumors and Patient Cell-Free DNA

Neuroblastoma

Background

Neuroblastoma, a common pediatric cancer, is remarkable for its broad spectrum of clinical behavior. Although some children are highly curable, nearly half of all patients have clinically aggressive tumors.

The Impact of Hypoxia on Epigenetic Changes in Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma

Background

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Survival of Children with Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma

We recently demonstrated that African Americans with neuroblastoma have a statistically worse outcome than Caucasian patients. Although multiple factors contribute to health disparities, our studies indicate that genetic factors play a critical role in the overall poor outcome we observed in African American children. Using a unique laboratory, cell-based model, Drs.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer