Improving radiation treatment for children's brain tumors
Official title: Enhanced radiotherapy for pediatric glioma via synthetic lethal vulnerabilities
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11181617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new ways to make radiation treatment more effective for children with a serious type of brain tumor called diffuse midline glioma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $870,926 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284565-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be children diagnosed with diffuse midline gliomas, especially those with the H3K27M genetic mutation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who do not have diffuse midline gliomas with the H3K27M mutation may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) are aggressive brain tumors in children that are very hard to treat with surgery or chemotherapy. While radiation helps extend life, these tumors always come back and are currently fatal. Our team is exploring new drug combinations with radiation to make the treatment stronger. We've found specific weaknesses in these tumor cells that we believe can be targeted by combining radiation with certain new medications. The goal is to find a way to stop these tumors from growing back after radiation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy and extend the lives of children with diffuse midline gliomas.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds upon recent laboratory discoveries that identified specific vulnerabilities in these tumor cells, and it aligns with national initiatives focused on precision radiation combinations.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chowdhury, Dipanjan — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Chowdhury, Dipanjan
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Improving radiotherapy for children's brain tumors
This study is looking for better ways to help kids with a tough brain cancer called diffuse midline gliomas by using special techniques to find new treatments that can work alongside radiation therapy, with the hope of improving their chances of recovery.
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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.