Understanding the developmental basis of pediatric brain cancer is often hindered by the lack of knowledge underlying normal neural differentiation. Our research gains a deeper molecular understanding of how progenitor cells typically develop and how pediatric tumors take advantage of these programs to drive tumorigenesis. By examining pediatric tumor formation through the lens of neurodevelopment, we uncover new parallels between these processes.
Image: Unipolar brush cells of the mature cerebellum,
Image: Unipolar brush cells of the mature cerebellum,
Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children, with central nervous system (CNS) tumors being the deadliest form. Unlike adult cancers, pediatric brain cancer is thought to arise from maturation blocks during brain development. Despite its impact on children’s health, our understanding of the developmental underpinnings of pediatric brain cancer is limited. The Kutscher Lab investigates how germline and somatic alterations halt normal developmental trajectories to form (pre)malignant cells, using murine and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models. We are broadly interested in the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying developmental cell death, cerebellum cell type specification, and tumor initiation. We focus on medulloblastoma, a malignant embryonal tumor arising from the developing cerebellum. Given that pediatric cancer can be thought of as a disease arising from dysregulated development, understanding both normal developmental principles and how development is altered following mutations will be key to fully understand medulloblastoma formation.
