A new combination radiation treatment for neuroblastoma that has returned or is hard to treat
Official title: COMBINATION HIGH-LET MOLECULAR RADIOTHERAPY OF RELAPSED REFRACTORY NEUROBLASTOMA
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11193924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to develop a new combination radiation treatment for children with neuroblastoma that has come back or is difficult to treat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $637,434 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285959-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is focused on children aged 0-11 years old who have neuroblastoma that has returned after initial treatment or is difficult to treat.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those whose neuroblastoma has not relapsed or is responding well to current treatments may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Neuroblastoma is a common childhood cancer, and many children experience the cancer returning, leading to very low survival rates. Current radiation treatments often don't fully eliminate all cancer cells, especially tiny hidden ones. This new approach combines different types of targeted radiation, including a powerful "high-LET" radiation, to more effectively destroy cancer cells. The goal is to overcome the limitations of existing treatments by targeting multiple pathways and using stronger radiation to reach all disease sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new combination treatment could offer a more effective way to eliminate neuroblastoma cells, potentially improving long-term survival for children with relapsed or refractory disease.
How similar studies have gone: While existing targeted radiotherapies for neuroblastoma have shown some success, this project introduces a novel combination strategy with high-LET radiation to address their limitations.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Hanwen — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Hanwen
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.