Research Highlights

  • Antibody therapy promising for pediatric neuroblastoma
    A new strategy that turns small populations of immune system cells into armies that track down and kill neuroblastoma throughout the body could save the lives of many children each year. (Raymond C. Barfield, MD, PhD)
  • Evidence links cocaine abuse and Parkinson's disease 
    Adults who abuse cocaine might increase their risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD), and pregnant women who abuse cocaine could increase the risk of their children developing PD later in life. (Richard J. Smeyne, PhD)
  • Synaptic connections need nurturing to retain their structure and keep outsiders at bay 
    The ability of the brain to transmit and process information requires a lifelong commitment to maintaining the integrity of synapses-the special connections that permit the passage of nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. (James I Morgan, PhD)
  • Ink4c and Ptch1 genes collaborate to suppress medulloblastoma
    The Ink4c and Ptch1 genes collaborate to suppress the development of medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor, according to investigators at St. Jude, Rockefeller University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Newcastle (UK). (Martine F. Roussel, PhD)
  • New treatment could save vision of children with advanced eye cancer and prevent its recurrence following therapy
    Studies using laboratory models of retinoblastoma show that the combination of topotecan and carboplatin are superior to the current multi-drug treatment. (Michael A. Dyer, PhD)
  • Subtypes of ependymomas arise from rare stem cells in the nervous system
    Brain tumors called ependymomas that occur in different parts of the central nervous system appear to arise from subpopulations of stem cells called radial glia cells (RGCs), according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (Richard J. Gilbertson, MD, PhD)
  • Mechanism controlling DNA damage response has potential novel medical applications
    Investigators at St. Jude have discovered a previously unrecognized mechanism that controls a key protein linked to the cell's response to stress. (Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhD)
  • Children and adolescents with advanced cancer can make complex end-of-life care decisions
    Pediatric cancer patients as young as 10 years old who are aware that their disease is incurable have the ability to participate meaningfully in discussions of their own end-of-life care with family members and the health care team. (Pamela S. Hinds, PhD, RN, and Wayne L. Furman, MD)
  • Suppression of FOXO1a gene might kill resistant ARMS tumors
    FOXO1a caused death of tumor cells in laboratory study by triggering expression of caspase-3, which blocks cell division and causes cells to undergo apoptosis. (Gerard C. Grosveld, PhD)
  • Defective lymphatic vessels identified as a novel cause of adult-onset obesity
    Leaky lymphatic vessels are the leading cause of the adult onset obesity observed in a laboratory model developed by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (Guillermo Oliver, PhD)
  • Drug resistant avian influenza viruses more common in Southeast Asia than North America
    Resistance to the antiviral drug amantadine is spreading more rapidly among avian influenza viruses of H5N1 subtype in Southeast Asia than in North America. (Robert G. Webster, PhD)
  • Anti-tumor activity also plays a critical role during eye development in the embryo
    A gene better known for its role in preventing cancer also plays a key role in the developing embryo, where the gene prevents excessive growth of blood vessels, according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (Stephen X. Skapek, MD)
  • Genetically modified cells migrate to brain and treat neurodegeneration in St. Jude model
    Researchers demonstrated that it might be possible to treat a disease that destroys brain cells in children by using genetically modified bone marrow cells (BMC) to transport a “drug” to the site of those dying brain cells. The investigators successfully treated a laboratory model of a lysosomal storage disease with the gene for a critical enzyme missing in these brain cells. The team inserted the gene into BMCs and infused them into the model. The BMCs developed into cells called monocytes and migrated to the brain, where they released the enzyme at the site of the dying cells. (Alessandra d’Azzo, PhD)
  • Oral liquid hydroxyurea promising for long-term use in babies with sickle cell anemia
    The results of a clinical trial suggested that giving an oral preparation of hydroxyurea to babies with sickle cell anemia (SCA) can prevent the onset of long-term complications triggered by this disease. This finding is important because the onset of damage caused by SCA complications can occur as early as three months after birth; and starting treatment before complications occur could dramatically reduce the chance of organ damage and premature death. (Jane S. Hankins, MD) 
  • Pattern of gene expression predicts multiple drug resistance, treatment failure in pediatric leukemia
    A team of investigators discovered that a specific pattern of gene expression in leukemic cells is linked to their resistance to anti-leukemic drugs. This finding helps to explain why standard therapies fail to cure about 20 percent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The results could help St. Jude researchers design more effective treatments for children with ALL whom current treatment strategies fail to cure. (William E. Evans, PharmD)
  • Both inherited traits and tumor mutations affect response to treatment of leukemia
    Researchers demonstrated that certain traits inherited from parents can reduce the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This findings has the potential to improve treatment outcome by providing additional genetic clues that enable clinicians to identify patients at high or low risk of relapsing. (Mary V. Relling, PharmD)


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