Priming with Belinostat to chemo-sensitise high-risk neuroblastoma
Priming with Belinostat to chemo-sensitise high-risk neuroblastoma
Associate Professor David CroucherGarvan Institute of Medical Research, UNSW$445,2262025-2028
Background
Neuroblastoma is a tumour that develops within nerve tissue and is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in children under the age of five.
Approximately 50% of children with neuroblastoma have an aggressive type of disease called high-risk neuroblastoma, who receive intensive treatment and have low survival rates. Unfortunately, those surviving these intensive treatments also often experience significant long-term side effects and so there is an urgent need to improve the treatment of children with high-risk neuroblastoma.
About the project
Associate Professor Croucher and his team have developed a unique mathematical model that can investigate the efficacy of drugs against high-risk neuroblastoma.
In a project previously funded by Cancer Council NSW, Associate Professor Croucher’s team used this unique mathematical model to identify that certain drugs, known as HDAC inhibitors, can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. This current project builds on their previous research and aims to assess the efficacy of a specific HDAC inhibitor, known as Belinostat, in advanced models and provide the evidence needed for a follow-on clinical trial in high-risk neuroblastoma.
Impact
If successful, a follow-on clinical trial could provide a new treatment strategy to improve outcomes for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. As Belinostat is already approved for use in other cancers, such as lymphoma, repurposing this drug should enable rapid implementation into clinical practice.
