Funded by the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund
Burkett’s lymphoma and neuroblastoma are two different types of childhood cancers that share a common link: the MYC gene. Chemotherapy is often used for treatment, but the side effects can be hard on young patients. Doctors and researchers now know that the side effects are mostly from blocking the growth of both cancer cells and healthy cells. Chemotherapy also does not work well for some patients. Our research focuses on drugs that target MYC to safely slow the growth of cancer cells. We will test these new drugs in the laboratory for future development into medications for patients. In the end, our work will produce better medicines to treat these cancers without giving up patient comfort.
