Finding Novel Methods for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Tumors in Children
Through immuno-oncology, medical researchers and clinicians are discovering new and innovative ways to use the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Under the direction of Gary Kohanbash, PhD, the Pediatric Neurosurgery ImmunoOncology Laboratory (PNIO) is specifically targeting deadly pediatric central nervous system tumors through the development of novel immuno-oncology approaches.
With more than a decade of experience in translational brain tumor immunology and involvement in numerous clinical trials, the laboratory has a unique expertise and perspective on high- and low-grade gliomas and ependymomas.
It is now known that the body’s immune cells, such as T-cells, can traffic into the central nervous system (CNS) and mediate anti-tumor responses, but special care must be taken in treatment owing to the immune-privileged status of the CNS and delicate brain structures involved. With significant developments in next-generation DNA sequencing, novel antigens and neoantigens targeting pediatric CNS tumors are being identified by the lab.
