Medulloblastoma is the most common type of pediatric brain cancer, which accounts for >10% of all childhood cancer deaths. Despite the progress in treating medulloblastoma, the 5-year survival rate for high-risk tumors remains poor, and the risk of recurrence within two years of treatment is still high. This is mainly due to the presence of Medulloblastoma Stem Cells (MBSCs) that self-renew themselves and render patients resistant to radiation routinely used to treat them. In this proposal, we provide compelling evidence that S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) may be one of the critical proteins that support MBSCs. Our preliminary results suggest that SKP2 promotes MBSCs growth and radiation resistance by supporting the energy needs of MBSCs. In this application, we propose to disrupt these energy-generating pathways to block medulloblastoma growth and improve the efficacy of radiation therapy. Our study has the potential to provide potent and safe alternatives for treating pediatric brain tumor patients. In addition, the drugs identified in our study will improve the efficacy of radiation therapy. Therefore, medulloblastoma patients don’t have to be treated with high doses of radiation, which has life-altering side effects. Our study provides a strong rationale to initiate clinical trials with glutaminase inhibitor/s alone or combined with radiation for treating medulloblastoma patients without delay.
Watch the YouTube announcement and check the presentation HERE.