Testing a new dual treatment for aggressive childhood brain cancers

Background

In Australia, brain cancer is the single disease responsible for the greatest number of deaths in childhood. High-Grade Gliomas, and specific subtypes of medulloblastoma and ependymoma, are among the most aggressive of all childhood brain cancers. Many children with these devastating brain cancers will succumb to the disease within a few years of diagnosis.  

The research

Professor Ziegler and his team recently discovered that a specific molecular pathway is overactive in aggressive childhood brain cancer. Further lab testing by the team has shown this molecular pathway is a promising treatment target. 

In this project, Professor Ziegler will use samples from the most aggressive childhood brain tumours to test if a new drug combination can switch off the overactive molecular pathway and halt cancer progression. They will also test the effectiveness of this drug combination alongside chemotherapy and other current treatments to see if their effectiveness is enhanced.