Cell behavior and treatment response in WNT-type childhood medulloblastoma
Regulation of Cell Fate and Treatment Response in WNT Medulloblastoma
The team is working to understand how the gene DDX3X and related changes affect tumor behavior and to develop immune-based treatments for children with WNT-subgroup medulloblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178025 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers focus on a gene called DDX3X that helps developing brain cells decide whether to grow, change, or die, and they study how DDX3X mutations contribute to WNT-subgroup medulloblastoma in children. They use lab-grown cells, animal models, and human tumor samples to trace how these molecular changes alter cell fate, tumor formation, and the tumor environment — including effects on the blood–brain barrier that can change how chemotherapy reaches the tumor. The team will develop and test new immune-based therapies tailored to WNT medulloblastoma and plan to move the most promising approaches into clinical trials at collaborating pediatric centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children diagnosed with WNT-subgroup medulloblastoma, especially those treated at or able to visit pediatric cancer centers and who can provide tumor tissue or enroll in clinical trials, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children with non-WNT medulloblastoma subgroups or unrelated brain tumors are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this WNT-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could yield targeted immunotherapies or treatment strategies that improve cure rates and reduce long-term side effects for children with WNT medulloblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies from this team identified DDX3X mutations and helped explain chemotherapy sensitivity in WNT tumors, but developing targeted immunotherapies for WNT medulloblastoma is a newer and still experimental direction.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilbertson, Richard — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gilbertson, Richard
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.