Targeted treatments for childhood low-grade brain tumors
Official title: Project 1: Targeted therapeutics for pediatric low-grade glioma
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11178583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if more precise RAF-targeting drugs and drug combinations can improve treatment for children with low-grade gliomas, especially tumors with BRAF changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2013 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $481,888 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA165962-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with pediatric low-grade gliomas, particularly those whose tumors have BRAF or other RAF-related alterations or who have recurrent disease, would be the main candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children whose tumors lack RAF/BRAF alterations or who are already cured by standard surgery and chemotherapy may not directly benefit from these targeted approaches.
What this research studies
If your child has a low-grade glioma, this work builds on promising early results with a drug called tovorafenib and looks for better RAF-targeting drugs or combinations. Researchers study tumor cells and patient samples to understand why some children respond and others do not. The program links laboratory studies with clinical trials to find treatments that work better and cause fewer long-term problems. It also aims to help doctors predict which children need targeted drugs versus standard surgery or chemotherapy so some families might avoid unnecessary treatments and frequent MRIs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could lead to more effective, less toxic targeted treatments for children with low-grade gliomas and help identify who truly needs those therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work with the RAF inhibitor tovorafenib produced promising responses, earned FDA breakthrough designation, and led to a Phase 2 trial, but responses have been variable and need refinement.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kann, Benjamin Harris — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kann, Benjamin Harris
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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OPTIMUM: Engaging LGG patients in understanding how low-grade brain tumors evolve
A large study plans to involve people with low-grade glioma to map how their tumors change from initial diagnosis to recurrence using patient-friendly data sharing and trial connections.
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Targeted therapies for pediatric low-grade glioma
A pediatric brain tumor project aims to find better, safer targeted treatments for kids with low-grade gliomas.
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Understanding how diffuse low-grade gliomas disrupt cortical information processing
This study looks at how a common adult brain tumor changes brain circuits and thinking skills, with the aim of guiding better therapies for cognitive problems.
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Targeting O-mannosylation in pediatric brain tumors driven by BRAF fusion
A pediatric brain tumor project is exploring whether blocking a specific sugar-modifying process called POMT-mediated O-mannosylation can stop tumor growth in tumors driven by KIAA1549-BRAF fusions.
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Druggable targets in pediatric low-grade glioma through multi-modal data and screening
A pediatric brain tumor study aims to find new drug targets by integrating imaging, genetics, and biology data to tailor treatments for children with low-grade gliomas.
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Improving patient participation to track how lower-grade brain tumors change over time
This project works with adults who have lower-grade (WHO II/III) glioma to collect surgical tumor samples, medical records, and feedback so researchers can better understand how their tumors change from diagnosis to recurrence.
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.