Causes and weak points of childhood radiation-related brain tumors
Determining the Origins and Vulnerabilities of Pediatric Treatment-Induced Gliomas
This project looks for what causes aggressive brain tumors that can arise after childhood radiation and finds their treatment weaknesses to guide better therapies for affected kids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167791 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on children who developed high-grade gliomas after receiving cranial radiotherapy and on samples from those tumors. Researchers will analyze tumor and germline DNA and use single-cell RNA sequencing to pinpoint cells of origin and inherited DNA repair problems that might raise risk. They will grow patient-derived tumor cells and implant them in models to test existing drugs, including DNA-disrupting agents and MEK inhibitors, that showed promise in the lab. The aim is to link genetic risk factors to therapies that could be effective against these otherwise fatal secondary tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children or young adults who previously received cranial radiotherapy and later developed a secondary high-grade glioma, or families willing to provide tumor samples and genetic information, would be the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without a history of cranial radiation or with unrelated types of brain tumors are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could identify targeted treatments and genetic markers to spot children at higher risk after radiation.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier laboratory and patient-derived model work found distinct molecular features and sensitivity to DNA-damaging drugs and MEK inhibitors, but clinical benefit in patients has not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Green, Adam Lyon — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Green, Adam Lyon
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 below.