Preventing neuroblastoma from becoming resistant to treatment
Targeting evolving therapy resistance
This project follows how neuroblastoma tumors change during therapy in children and uses that information to try targeted drugs and immunotherapies to stop resistant cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310012 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient or parent view, the team will repeatedly monitor tumors using advanced genomic and single-cell methods (like ATAC‑seq) to see how cancer cells evolve during treatment. They will specifically look for changes such as ALK and RAS‑MAPK pathway alterations and epigenetic shifts that allow some cells to survive therapy. Based on those findings, researchers will develop and test targeted small molecules and immune‑based approaches aimed at the emerging resistant clones. Participation would involve providing tumor or blood samples and visiting specialized centers for sample collection and possible personalized treatment approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with high‑risk or relapsed neuroblastoma, especially those whose tumors show ALK or other evolving, targetable changes, would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with other cancer types, adults, or children whose tumors cannot be sampled or lack targetable changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent relapse and improve survival while lowering long‑term side effects for children with neuroblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Targeted drugs against ALK have helped some patients, but using serial single‑cell and epigenetic monitoring to guide evolving, personalized therapy is a newer and less tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mosse, Yael P — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Mosse, Yael P
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.