Investigators: Brooke Strowger, Hilary Hii, Jacob Byrne, Jacqueline Whitehouse, Jessica Buck, Mani Kuchibhotla, Meegan Howlett, Nick Gottardo, Patrick Dyer, Raelene Endersby
Project description
Brain cancer kills more Australian children than any other disease. Medulloblastoma is the most common childhood brain cancer, and survival rates of the most aggressive subtypes remain poor. Our research aims to find new medicines that can be combined with existing treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, to make more effective, less toxic treatments for kids with brain cancer. This project found that a type of drug called a PARP inhibitor, when combined with radiotherapy, increased survival in a model of medulloblastoma. Therefore, PARP inhibitors might be a good candidate for further research and eventually clinical trials.
Collaborators
- Kerrie McDonald (UNSW)
Partners
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- The Pirate Ship Foundation