Investigators: Terry Johns, Emily Fletcher, Brittany Dewdney, Lauren Ursich
Project description
High grade gliomas (HGGs) are a heterogeneous group of aggressive brain tumours that affect children and adults. In children, two of the most life-threatening HGG sub-types are ependymomas and diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs). The ependymoma cure rate is less than 50% and DIPG is nearly always fatal. The outcomes for ependymoma and DIPG patients have not improved for over 30 years and radical new approaches to treatment are desperately needed.
We are investigating a radical new approach to treat ependymomas and DIPGs using targeted drugs in combination with agents targeting ion channels that may prevent the development of drug resistance. We aim to identify and validate the roles of ion channels in adult and paediatric brain cancer and test if existing clinically approved ion channel drugs can prevent their signal rewiring. Repurposing existing drugs for HGG treatment may be a fast and effective way to overcome resistance and increase the anti-tumour activity of targeted therapies, thereby extending patients’ lives.
Collaborators:
- Steven Petrou (Florey Institute)
- Paul Huang (The Institute of Cancer Research)
- Carol Milligan (Florey Institute)
Partners:
- Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation
- The Brain Tumour Charity