Neuro-Oncololgy Advances: The effects of palbociclib in combination with radiation in preclinical models of aggressive meningioma (Houghton)

August 4, 2021

Craig Horbinski, Guifa Xi, Yufen Wang, Rintaro Hashizume, Mahesh Gopalakrishnan, Joanna J Phillips, Peter Houghton, Charles D James, John A Kalapurakal Abstract Background Meningiomas are the most common tumor arising within the cranium of adults. Despite surgical resection and radiotherapy, many meningiomas invade the brain, and many recur, often repeatedly. To date, no chemotherapy has proven effective against such tumors. Thus, there is […]

Cell Reports: NELL2-cdc42 signaling regulates BAF complexes and Ewing sarcoma cell growthNELL2-cdc42 signaling regulates BAF complexes and Ewing sarcoma cell growth (Shiio, Houghton)

July 8, 2021

Panneerselvam Jayabal1, Fuchun Zhou1, Xiufen Lei1, XiuyeMa1, Barron Blackman1, Susan T.Weintraub23, Peter J.Houghton134, YuzuruShiio1235 Highlights • The autocrine signaling mediated by NELL2 maintains Ewing sarcoma cell growth • NELL2 signaling inhibits cdc42 and enhances EWS-FLI1 transcriptional output • NELL2-cdc42 signaling regulates the assembly and the stability of BAF complexes • Ewing sarcoma harbors cell populations […]

Dr. Houghton Co-Authors MDPI paper, “Dihydroartemisinin Inhibits mTORC1 Signaling by Activating the AMPK Pathway in Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumor Cells

July 2, 2021

Authored by: Jun Luo, Yoshinobu Odaka, Zhu Huang, Bing Cheng, Wang Liu, Lin Li, Chaowei Shang, Chao Zhang, Yang Wu, Yan Luo, Shengyong Yang, Peter J. Houghton, Xiaofeng Guo, Shile Huang Abstract Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), an anti-malarial drug, has been shown to possess potent anticancer activity, partly by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. However, how DHA inhibits mTORC1 is still unknown. Here, [...]

Angelina Vaseva, PhD Presented 2021 Voelcker Pilot Award (Houghton Lab)

June 16, 2021

Congratulations to Angelina Vaseva, PhD, research assistant professor at Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and the Department of Molecular Medicine, on being presented a 2021 2021 Voelcker Pilot Award. Dr. Vaseva’s project is “ Vertical Inhibition of the RAF-MEK-ERK Pathway in RAS-driven Rhabdomyosarcoma”.  Her studies are centered on the development of novel targeted therapeutic strategies […]

Please welcome the Greehey CCRI summer 2021 interns

June 7, 2021

                    Greehey CCRI would like to welcome the 2021 Donald G McEwen, Memorial Summer Undergraduate Research Program students. Gaby Ruban – Dr. Chen Misa Ito – Dr. Ignatius Jingsi Zhou – Dr. Kitagawa Hoang Dinh  – Dr. Libich Gabriella Quintanilla – Dr. Penalva Shresth Arya – […]

Molecular Cancer Therapeutics: International consensus on minimum preclinical testing requirements for the development of innovative therapies for children and adolescents with cancer (Houghton)

June 4, 2021

Gilles Vassal, Peter J Houghton, Stefan M Pfister, Malcolm A. Smith, Huib N Caron, Xiao-Nan Li, David J Shields, Olaf Witt, Jan J Molenaar, Sara Colombetti, Julia Schuler, and Lou F Stancato Abstract Cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in children. For the many children who experience relapses of their malignant solid tumors, usually after very intensive first-line therapy, curative treatment options are scarce. Preclinical drug testing to identify promising treatment elements that match the molecular make-up […]

JCM: Prioritization of Novel Agents for Patients with Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) New Agents for Rhabdomyosarcoma Task Force (Houghton)

April 30, 2021

by  Holly L. Pacenta 1,2, Wendy Allen-Rhoades,  3, David Langenau,  4, Peter J. Houghton,  5, Charles Keller 6, Christine M. Heske,  7 , Michael D. Deel,  8, Corinne M. Linardic,  8 , Jack F. Shern 7, Elizabeth Stewart,  9, Brian Turpin,  10, Douglas J. Harrison,  11, Javed Khan,  12, Leo Mascarenhas,  13,14 , Stephen X. […]

EurekAlert: Researchers (Houghton & Kurmasheva part of team who) identify surface protein as a new osteosarcoma therapeutic target for antibody-drug conjugates

April 13, 2021

Novel approach paves the way for a vast expansion in the number of drugs targeting osteosarcoma Abstract #LB008 HOUSTON — A preclinical study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shows an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting surface protein MT1-MMP can act as a guided missile in eradicating osteosarcoma tumor cells […]

MDPI: Samson Ghilu, Raushan Kurmasheva, and Peter Houghton publish a perspective on developing new agents for treatment of childhood cancer, and its challenges and opportunities for preclinical testing

April 4, 2021

Abstract Developing new therapeutics for the treatment of childhood cancer has challenges not usually associated with adult malignancies. Firstly, childhood cancer is rare, with approximately 12,500 new diagnoses annually in the U.S. in children 18 years or younger. With current multimodality treatments, the 5-year event-free survival exceeds 80%, and 70% of patients achieve long-term “cure”, […]

Cell Cycle: Regulation of DNA duplication by the mTOR signaling pathway (Houghton)

March 11, 2021

ABSTRACT Accurate and complete DNA replication and separation are essential for genetic information inheritance and organism maintenance. Errors in DNA duplication are the main source of genetic instability. Understanding DNA duplication regulation is the key to elucidate the mechanisms and find treatment strategies for human genetic disorders, especially cancer. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) […]