Targeting Childhood Brain Tumors with Metabolic Therapy
Combination metabolic therapy for diffuse midline glioma
This project looks for new ways to treat a serious childhood brain tumor called diffuse midline glioma by focusing on how these tumors use energy to grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163472 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are aggressive brain tumors that primarily affect children and have a very poor outlook. This project explores a new approach by targeting the tumor's metabolism, specifically focusing on two pathways (G6PD and GLO1) that are overactive in these tumors due to a specific genetic mutation. By blocking both of these pathways together, researchers hope to stop tumor growth and cause the cancer cells to die. This work uses patient-derived models and aims to develop a clinically translatable method for visualizing glucose metabolism in these tumors. If successful, this could lead to more effective treatments for children with this challenging cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is focused on diffuse midline gliomas, a type of aggressive brain tumor primarily affecting children, especially those with the H3K27M genetic mutation.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of brain tumors or cancers not driven by the specific metabolic vulnerabilities of diffuse midline gliomas may not directly benefit from this particular therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, more effective treatment option for children diagnosed with diffuse midline gliomas, potentially improving their survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal studies have shown promising results with this combined approach, suggesting it is a novel and effective strategy.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viswanath, Pavithra — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Viswanath, Pavithra
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.