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Pre-clinical models that effectively recapitulate human disease are critical for expanding our knowledge of cancer biology and drug resistance mechanisms.

Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells (hESC-NSCs) are an attractive cell type for studying

Aberrant expression of the TLX1/HOX11 proto-oncogene is associated with a significant subset of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias...

We examined the baseline profile of a panel of T-ALL cell lines to determine factors that contribute to GC resistance without prior drug selection.

The main aim of our Leukaemia Translational Research Team is to test innovative therapeutic approaches, with a focus on clinical translation of this knowledge, to improve the outcomes of children suffering from leukaemia.

Asparaginase is a critical component of modern multi-agent chemotherapy regimens for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma, with inadequate exposure leading to inferior patient outcomes.

Mesothelioma is a cancer derived from mesothelial cells, most commonly arising from the pleura or the peritoneum. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has shown survival benefit for pleural mesothelioma, but little is known about the response in peritoneal mesothelioma. Most preclinical mesothelioma models involve subcutaneous cancer cell implantation, which lacks the relevant tumour microenvironment of peritoneal mesothelioma and does not resemble the clinical presentation.

Rishi S. Kotecha MB ChB (Hons) MRCPCH FRACP PhD Co-Head, Leukaemia Translational Research rishi.kotecha@health.wa.gov.au Co-Head, Leukaemia

It is now well accepted that germline or de novo genetic alterations predispose to cancer development, especially during childhood. Among them, constitutive trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome (DS), has been shown to predispose to acute leukemia affecting both the myeloid (ML-DS) and lymphoid (DS-ALL) lineages. ML-DS is associated with a good prognosis compared to children without DS, due in part to a higher sensitivity to conventional chemotherapy.

Current immunization guidelines recommend one dose of influenza vaccine for children aged ≥9 years and two doses for younger or vaccine-naïve children. However, children receiving chemotherapy have an attenuated immune response. We performed a prospective open-label study in children undergoing treatment for cancer at Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, to examine the safety and efficacy of a boosted influenza schedule.