University of Colorado Denver

University of Colorado Denver

12605 E 16th Ave

Aurora, CO 80045

United States

Targeting of a putative unresolved wound healing process in childhood ependymoma

Brain tumors, including ependymoma that is the focus of our proposed studies, are the leading cause of childhood cancer mortality. Ependymoma has seen no advance in treatment options in over 30 years despite numerous chemotherapy clinical trials and current treatment is curative in less than 50% of cases. Innovative therapeutic approaches are therefore desperately needed for this devastating tumor.

Improving homing and activity of CAR T cells in pediatric sarcomas

Osteosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma

Despite various treatment options, cure rates for sarcoma patients continue to be very poor. Many researchers have developed new therapies that harness the immune system to cure cancers; however, most of these treatments (called immunotherapies) are not effective in solid tumors. One of the most promising therapies involves T cells expressing artificial receptors that allow them to recognize and kill cancer cells.

Understanding the role of CDK8 in protein synthesis for treating MYC-driven medulloblastoma

Brain Tumors, Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric tumor, accounting for 15-20% of childhood brain tumors. Current multimodal therapies--including surgery and radiochemotherapy--increase long-term survival to 60-80%, but 33% of children diagnosed die in 5 years; the median survival for recurrent MB patients being less than 12 months. Molecular profiling and genetic analysis have categorized MB into 4 subgroups, each associated with distinct genetic alterations, age at onset, and prognosis.

Single Cell RNA Sequencing of Pediatric High- and Low-Grade Gliomas

Brain Tumors, Astrocytoma, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), Ganglioglioma, Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), Glioma

Lay Summary: Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are the most common brain tumors diagnosed in children, and high-grade gliomas (HGG) are the most common cause of death. While many children can be treated with surgery alone for LGG, a large number of patients are unable to undergo surgery due to the location of the tumor, while others carry higher risk factors due to underlying mutations in the tumor.

Live-Cell Surface Proteomic Characterization of Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors Using High Throughout Multi-Color Flow

Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT)

Collaborators

Olivier Ayrault, PhD, Institut Curie
Rajeev Vibhakar, MD/PhD, University of Colorado Denver

Targeting Eya2 to Inhibit c-Myc Driven Medulloblastoma Tumor Progression - Connor Farnham (2017)

Medulloblastoma

Background

Medulloblastoma is a pediatric cancer that quickly grows in the cerebellum. Although, there are many different types of medulloblastoma, patients are uniformly treated with therapies including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In order to find better treatments with less severe side effects it is important to understand the different types of medulloblastoma so we can tailor the treatment to each type of medulloblastoma.

Targeting Eya2 to Inhibit c-Myc driven Medulloblastoma Tumor Progression - Melanie Vincent, PhD (2016)

Brain Tumors, Medulloblastoma

Background

Testing Novel Ash1L Inhibitors in Leukemia

Brain Tumors, Neuroblastoma

Background

ASH1L is an epigenetic regulator that is thought to act in gene expression through its activity as a histone H3, lysine 36 methylase. It has also been shown to act synergistically with the MLL1 proto-oncoprotein to regulate important pro-leukemogenic targets.

Targeting the Six1/Eya Transcriptional Complex to Inhibit Pediatric Sarcomas

Ewing Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma

Exploiting Epigenetic Dependencies of Notch1 for Clinical Benefit

Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer