What drives aggressive fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma and its spread
Oncogenic Drivers of Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell State, Cancer Stem Cells and Metastasis
Looking at the cancer stem cells that make fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma grow and spread so new treatments can stop them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312633 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers aim to identify the specific tumor cells (cancer stem cells) that drive growth, treatment resistance, and metastasis in fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma. They will compare these cancer cells to normal early muscle-mesenchyme cells and map the genes and pathways that keep them stem-like or make them migratory. Using laboratory models (cell lines and animal models) and human tumor samples, they will test ways to push those cells into non-dividing, non-moving states or to kill them outright. The work is led at Massachusetts General Hospital and is focused on approaches that could help relapsed or metastatic cases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and young adults with fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma, especially those with relapsed, refractory, or metastatic disease, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with other cancer types, fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma, or non-malignant conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that stop relapsed or metastatic fusion-negative RMS by forcing cancer stem cells to stop growing or by eliminating them.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies targeting cancer stem cells and differentiation pathways have shown promise, but translating those findings into effective treatments for rhabdomyosarcoma remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Langenau, David Michael — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Langenau, David Michael
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.