A Study of the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Pediatric Medulloblastoma Mediated By YB-1

Medulloblastoma is the most common form of pediatric brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of approximately 70%, yet for some children’s survival is as low as 40%. Many of the treatment options for these patients may be effective in extending the five-year survival rate, however, quality of life issues still persist for these young patients including learning and developmental deficits. These side effects arise from damage to normal tissue in the developing brain by surgery and/or drug and radiation therapy. The goal of this project is to find novel therapeutic strategies that are effective in treating this cancer yet, do minimal harm to developing normal brain tissue. A protein called Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) is not found in normal tissue but is found in cancer cells including medulloblastoma. This makes this protein a good therapeutic target because inhibition of it will help kill cancer calls but not destroy normal surrounding tissue.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Poul Sorensen

Student:

Daniel Radiloff

Partner:

BC Cancer Agency

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of British Columbia