Tumor-targeted therapy for paediatric brain cancer

Data gathered in New Zealand between 2010 and 2014 shows that central nervous system cancers, including brain cancers, contributed to 20% of all childhood cancers (ages 0 to 14). Brain cancer in children is very challenging to treat and puts families under significant financial and emotional stress.

There is a considerable body of research shedding light on the molecular mechanism of various brain cancers in children. However, therapeutic intervention that targets these mechanisms has yielded minimal success so far. The problem is the natural barrier that exists to keep the brain healthy. Called the blood brain barrier (BBB), it prevents therapeutic agents from entering the brain.

Dr Jiney Jose and his team at the University of Auckland are involved in the development and application of tumour targeting with small-molecule theranostic drug dye conjugates that are able to penetrate the blood brain barrier. If their work is successful, it could lead to therapies that will successfully treat brain cancers in children and adults.

Funding from Cure Kids is helping Dr Jose and his team to overcome the BBB conundrum and improve the chance of successfully treating human brain cancers.