Brain tumors (astrocytomas or gliomas) represent the leading cause of cancer-related death in children and the fourth leading cause in adults. While there have been considerable advances in our ability to partially arrest their growth by targeting the genetic and molecular changes within cancer cells, a substantial number of patients with gliomas succumb to their disease, develop secondary brain dysfunction as a result of treatment, or fail to regain normal neurologic function despite treatment. We hypothesize that improved patient outcome from brain tumor treatment requires that therapies consider the bi-directional interactions between neoplastic cells and non-neoplastic cells in the tumor surround. Over the past five years, we have developed and validated several genetically-engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of low-grade glioma that recapitulate the salient features of the human condition. In this application, we will exploit these accurate GEMM systems to understand (1) the role of the tumor microenvironment, including important immune system cells, in gliomagenesis and tumor growth, (2) the effects of glioma growth on normal neuronal function, and (3) the secondary effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy on non-neoplastic brain cells. Using a cross-disciplinary approach, we aim to unravel the cellular and molecular determinants that underlie the bi-directional interactions between neoplastic cells and non-neoplastic cells in low-grade glioma, and use these insights to identify novel strategies aimed at improving the outcome of patients with these cancers. To this end, we have assembled a new team of investigators with prior involvement in large-scale cooperative research initiatives and expertise in mouse model generation (Dr. David Gutmann), stromal interactions in brain tumors (Drs. David Gutmann, Joshua Rubin), advanced small-animal imaging (Dr. Joel Garbow), genomic influences on tumorigenesis (Dr. Karlyne Reilly), and multi-modality imaging (Dr. Mark Ellisman). Finally, we have individually leveraged the rich research environments at Washington University, University of California-San Diego, and The National Cancer Institute to tackle this complex problem in cancer biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01CA141549-02
Application #
7914263
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-Q (M1))
Program Officer
Marks, Cheryl L
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$832,584
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Solga, Anne C; Toonen, Joseph A; Pan, Yuan et al. (2017) The cell of origin dictates the temporal course of neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf1) low-grade glioma formation. Oncotarget 8:47206-47215
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Solga, Anne C; Pong, Winnie W; Kim, Keun-Young et al. (2015) RNA Sequencing of Tumor-Associated Microglia Reveals Ccl5 as a Stromal Chemokine Critical for Neurofibromatosis-1 Glioma Growth. Neoplasia 17:776-88
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Solga, A C; Gianino, S M; Gutmann, D H (2014) NG2-cells are not the cell of origin for murine neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf1) optic glioma. Oncogene 33:289-99
Diggs-Andrews, Kelly A; Brown, Jacquelyn A; Gianino, Scott M et al. (2014) Sex Is a major determinant of neuronal dysfunction in neurofibromatosis type 1. Ann Neurol 75:309-16
Anastasaki, Corina; Gutmann, David H (2014) Neuronal NF1/RAS regulation of cyclic AMP requires atypical PKC activation. Hum Mol Genet 23:6712-21
Wozniak, David F; Diggs-Andrews, Kelly A; Conyers, Sara et al. (2013) Motivational disturbances and effects of L-dopa administration in neurofibromatosis-1 model mice. PLoS One 8:e66024

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