Improving radiotherapy for children's brain tumors
Official title: Enhanced radiotherapy for pediatric glioma via synthetic lethal vulnerabilities
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-10996979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $767,009 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA284565-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10996979 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with diffuse midline gliomas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those outside the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of radiotherapy for pediatric patients with diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), a type of brain cancer that is difficult to treat. The team is investigating specific vulnerabilities in these tumors using advanced techniques like CRISPR to identify potential drug targets. By combining radiation therapy with new drugs that affect DNA repair mechanisms, the goal is to improve survival rates for children suffering from this aggressive cancer. This approach aims to make radiotherapy more effective and potentially reduce the recurrence of tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates for children with diffuse midline gliomas.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using synthetic lethality approaches in cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Enhanced radiotherapy for pediatric glioma using targeted DNA damage pathways
A new approach aims to make radiotherapy work better for children with a deadly brain tumor by using drugs that tweak how cancer cells handle DNA damage.
-
Targeting tumor-supporting immune cells to boost brain tumor radiation
This project tests whether adding the FDA-approved iron agent ferumoxytol to standard radiation can help people with glioblastoma respond better.
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Improving radiation treatment for children's brain tumors
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.
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Enhancing glioblastoma treatment by targeting tumor-supporting immune cells
This study is looking at a new way to make radiation therapy work better for people with glioblastoma by using a safe, approved drug to target certain immune cells in the tumor, hoping to help the treatment be more effective for both newly diagnosed and returning patients.
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Next‑gen oncolytic virus therapy for glioblastoma targeting AKT and ERK
A new cancer therapy using an engineered oncolytic virus to fight glioblastoma by blocking AKT/ERK signals and boosting the body’s immune response, with potential to reduce seizures and improve quality of life.
-
Bone marrow immune cells and glioma progression in teens and young adults
A study in adolescents and young adults with brain tumors looks at how immune cells from bone marrow may influence the progression from low-grade to high-grade gliomas.
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.