Sathish Padi, PhD

Funded by the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund

Aggressive childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma and certain types of leukemia, are driven by a protein called MYC. MYC acts like the gas pedal in a car, telling cancer cells to grow and divide. When MYC gets stuck in the “on” position, tumors grow quickly and become harder to treat. Even though MYC is one of the main causes of these cancers, scientists have struggled for many years to develop drugs that can block it.Our research takes a different approach. Instead of trying to stop MYC directly, we study the cell’s natural braking system. A protein called PP2A normally helps keep MYC under control by telling the cell when MYC should be turned off and removed. In many high-risk childhood cancers, this natural brake no longer works, allowing MYC to stay active and drive cancer growth.Our goal is to learn exactly how PP2A controls MYC and why this process breaks down in cancer. We will combine advanced imaging tools with studies using pediatric cancer cell lines to see how these two proteins work together and how their connection changes in tumors.This research could lead to a new way to treat childhood cancer. Instead of blocking MYC itself, we hope to restore the cell’s natural ability to control it. The knowledge gained from this project will provide the foundation for developing more precise and less toxic treatments, bringing new hope to children with high-risk cancers and their families.