Targeting YBX1 to make radiation work better against high-risk medulloblastoma
Official title: Targeting YBX1 to enhance radiation sensitivity in very high risk medulloblastoma
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11355846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric brain cancer study tests a new approach to make radiation more effective against aggressive medulloblastoma by blocking a protein called YBX1.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $482,624 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA313161-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with high-risk medulloblastoma, including MYC-amplified Group 3 or TP53-mutated SHH MB, who may benefit from enhanced radiotherapy strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on YBX1 pathways or who cannot receive radiation due to medical reasons may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on children with high-risk medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, aiming to increase how well radiation kills cancer cells while reducing side effects. Researchers have identified YBX1 as a key protein linked to treatment resistance and poorer survival, and they are testing a direct inhibitor called SU056 that can reach the brain. The plan includes laboratory work in cancer cells and animal models to see if combining YBX1 inhibition with radiation improves tumor control. If successful, this could lead to smarter, more effective therapy options that potentially lower the radiation dose needed. The study is funded as a two-year grant under the R21 mechanism at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance radiation effectiveness in high-risk pediatric MB, potentially improving survival and reducing long-term treatment toxicity.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work suggests YBX1 inhibition can sensitize MB cells to radiation, with initial data showing synergy in cell lines and BBB penetration for the inhibitor.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Evans, Myron K — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Evans, Myron K
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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.