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Research

Potassium Ion Channels in Malignant Central Nervous System Cancers

Malignant central nervous system (CNS) cancers are among the most difficult to treat, with low rates of survival and a high likelihood of recurrence. This is primarily due to their location within the CNS, hindering adequate drug delivery and tumour access via surgery. Furthermore, CNS cancer cells are highly plastic, an adaptive property that enables them to bypass targeted treatment strategies and develop drug resistance.

Research

ONC201 in Combination with Paxalisib for the Treatment of H3K27-Altered Diffuse Midline Glioma

Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), are the most lethal of childhood cancers. Palliative radiotherapy is the only established treatment, with median patient survival of 9 to 11 months. ONC201 is a DRD2 antagonist and ClpP agonist that has shown preclinical and emerging clinical efficacy in DMG. 

Research

RaScALL: Rapid (Ra) screening (Sc) of RNA-seq data for prognostically significant genomic alterations in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) efforts in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia have identified numerous prognostically significant genomic alterations which can guide diagnostic risk stratification and treatment choices when detected early.

Research

Antifungal use in children with acute leukaemia: state of current evidence and directions for future research

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) remains a common and serious complication in children treated for leukaemia. Antifungal prescription in children with leukaemia presents unique challenges, particularly due to variation in IFD risk between and within leukaemia treatment protocols, drug toxicities and interactions between antifungals and chemotherapeutic agents.

Research

A novel transcriptional signature identifies T-cell infiltration in high-risk paediatric cancer

Molecular profiling of the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) has enabled the rational choice of immunotherapies in some adult cancers. In contrast, the TIME of paediatric cancers is relatively unexplored. We speculated that a more refined appreciation of the TIME in childhood cancers, rather than a reliance on commonly used biomarkers such as tumour mutation burden (TMB), neoantigen load and PD-L1 expression, is an essential prerequisite for improved immunotherapies in childhood solid cancers.

Research

Updates in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the potential for targeted therapy

Outcomes for infants diagnosed under 1 year of age with KMT2A-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have remained stagnant over the past 20 years. Successive treatment protocols have previously focused on intensification of conventional chemotherapy, but increased treatment-related toxicity and chemoresistance have led to a plateau in survival.

News & Events

Philanthropic legacy dedicated to seeing all kids with cancer survive and thrive

One of WA’s biggest ever philanthropic gifts will transform childhood cancer research and treatment by improving outcomes for children with cancer and discovering more effective and less toxic treatments.

News & Events

Pioneering research could be key to keeping cancer in check

Cancer research is being reimagined after a collaboration between The Kids Research Institute Australia, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

News & Events

Cancer researcher to use Forrest Fellowship to tackle high rates of relapse after sarcoma surgery

A The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher aiming to reduce the high rate of relapse in children after cancer surgery has won a prestigious post-doctoral fellowship from the Forrest Foundation.

News & Events

PhD pathway program ensuring bright future for clinical research in WA

Two outstanding Perth Children’s Hospital clinicians will be supported to pursue a career in medical research, paving the way for more clinician-scientists in Western Australia.