Peidatric brain tumors continue to be the Achilles' heel for researchs and clinicians engaged in discovering novel therapeutic strategies and improving the lives of pediatric oncology patients. In particular, medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Originating from embryonal neuroepithelial cells, MB often exhibits an aggressive growth pattern. It frequently invades surrounding CNS structures such as the regional subarachnoid and ventricular spaces, and can cause widespread seeding of the subarachnoid space. MB is one of only a few brain tumor types with a systemic metasatic potential including extraneural spread, principally to the bone marrow. To-date, available treatment option for MB reamins highly problematic. Conventional mutli-modality therapies such as surgery, radiotheraphy and chemotherapy can all cause significant brain injury manifesting as long-term neurocognitive defects in many patients of all ages. A new direction in the development of brain tumor therapy is therefore the incorporation of biological agents that are capable of targeting specific tumor signaling pathways to maximize treatment efficacy while reducing toxicity at the same time.
A full overview of Dr. Petrosiute's proposal is available in PDF form:
Dr. Petrosiute Proposal