Indiana University researchers report a specific type of childhood cancer

Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have published their work on a specific type of childhood cancer in the peer-reviewed international journal of oncology, Cancers.

This research involves a combination therapy that significantly slows tumor growth in the models, which includes a model established from cells taken from tumors donated by Tyler Trent. This is the first published manuscript that includes Trent’s tumor model.

Trent was a Purdue University student and sports superfan who died on January 1, 2019, after embarking on a long and courageous fight against an aggressive form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma.

In the publication’s acknowledgments, the researchers dedicated the study to Trent’s memory, saying they will forever remember him for his courageous battle, his passion for defending cancer, and generous donation of his tumor tissue for research.

We are so proud to honor Tyler’s legacy with this first publication, setting the stage for future research to build on. We still have a lot of work to do, but hopefully new osteosarcoma therapies will be possible as we learn more about how to stop the growth of different cancers.. “

Karen E. Pollok, PhD, Study Lead and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine

Riley Children’s Health’s Precision Genomics team found a genetic variation in Trent’s tumors (named after him as TT1 and TT2) known as the MYC-RAD21 signature, which was found in tumors that tend to recur.

Pollok said there are two drugs that can block its effects, a Chk1 inhibitor and a bromodomain inhibitor. His team tested each drug individually and in combination.

They found that in TT2 tumor models, they could prevent tumors from growing by using one of the drugs individually, but using both drugs together stopped the tumor from growing substantially during a four-week treatment. The research team also determined that the combined treatment was well tolerated.

“This research is allowing us to create a path to improve outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults with very aggressive bone cancer,” said Jamie Renbarger, MD, another lead investigator.

Renbarger was one of Tyler’s physicians and also leads the IU Precision Health Initiative pediatric sarcoma disease research team. She is also the Caroline Symmes Professor of Pediatric Cancer Research at IU School of Medicine. “We are confident that this program will pave the way in finding care for more children.”

The tumor started growing again in the models after stopping the therapy, leading the researchers to consider the next steps in their scientific process.

Future research topics will include learning an understanding of how tumors adapt to treatments and finding ways to optimize combination therapy.

“The findings and ongoing research with Tyler’s tumor models are incredibly encouraging and comforting for Tony and me,” said Kelly Trent, who is Tyler Trent’s mother. “It was at the heart of what Tyler wanted to be used forever and help in this ability. We are so grateful for the work of Dr. Pollok and Dr. Renbarger.”

Trent was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma when he was 15. In the years that followed, while a patient at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, he donated several tumor samples to cancer researchers at IU School of Medicine.

He also encouraged others to do the same by becoming a national cancer research advocate. People have donated millions of dollars to cancer research in his name, including over $ 189,000 to the Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment for Riley Hospital.

The Trent family and the Riley Children’s Foundation worked together to create the endowment fund, which supports pediatric research conducted by researchers at the IU School of Medicine.