Comprehensive Evaluation of Immune Function in Patients Receiving Multimodal Therapy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma
Abstract
Scientific Objective and Rationale: Children with high-risk neuroblastoma undergo intensive multimodality treatment. Despite this, only ~50% of patients are cured, highlighting a need for improved therapies. Because ~90% of patients with neuroblastoma are diagnosed before the age of 5 years, the impact of improved therapy selection has the potential to not only improve survival, but also impact the quality of the many years of life survivors of this disease may have. Unfortunately, we currently lack accurate methods to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from specific therapeutic modalities and those for whom new treatments are needed. Prior research has revealed that immune cells such as T cells play an essential role in killing cancer cells, but we know very little about how their functions change over the course of various components of neuroblastoma therapy. This proposal will focus on using new and highly detailed techniques to study malignant cells from patients and simultaneously study immune cell function from the same patients. Our twin goals are to identify biomarkers that can be used clinically to predict therapy response to optimize treatment selection and to understand immune cell response during therapy in order to develop novel therapies. Our team is uniquely qualified to do this, as the group includes clinicians and statisticians who have extensive experience in designing and conducting clinical trials for children with neuroblastoma, researchers who have developed the sensitive sequencing and profiling techniques proposed, and scientists who have studied dynamics of immune function in neuroblastoma. The results from the currently proposed studies will guide the development of new treatments for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Military Relevance Focus Area(s): This proposal addresses the FY21 PRCRP Topic Area neuroblastoma and addresses the FY21 PRCRP Military Heath Focus Area mission readiness: Gaps in cancer prevention, early detection/diagnosis, prognosis, and/or treatment that may affect the general population but have a particularly profound impact on the health and well-being of military Service Members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries. Results from the proposed project will lead to improved therapies that will benefit dependent children of military members who are diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Moreover, ensuring optimal therapy for children with cancer will improve the morale and effectiveness of any affected units.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210346
Entities
People
- Kai Tan
Organizations
- United States Army