Grants Search Results

Dr. Stanton and colleagues are developing new approaches to understand how DNA is organized for gene expression in a lethal childhood tumor called rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). In RMS, the standard of care therapies haven't changed substantially in 40 years and patient outcomes haven't improved greatly during this time. New approaches are desperately needed. There is a lack of a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms for how the cancer-causing genes function in RMS. Dr. Stanton and his team are integrating cutting edge approaches in synthetic biology, modeling, and genomics to understand how and why RMS forms, with the granularity of single gene targets for mechanism studies. Through Dr. Stanton's studies, the community will gain an understanding of how the cancer-causing genes are altering the organization of DNA in RMS cells.

This grant is funded by and named for the Aiden's Army Fund, a St. Baldrick's Hero Fund. Aiden Binkley who was diagnosed with Stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma at age 8. This bright, funny and courageous little boy believed he got cancer so he could grow up to find a cure for it. His vision is being carried on by Aiden’s Army through the funding of research. They will march until there is a cure!

Based on progress to date, Dr. Stanton was awarded a new grant in 2022 and 2023 to fund an additional year of this Scholar grant.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly aggressive and lethal pediatric cancer affecting children and adolescents and arises in the soft tissue and skeletal muscle of the extremities, head and neck, and reproductive organs. From the clinical perspective, although patient outcomes have improved in general, nevertheless survival rates for some RMS tumors remains at less than 30%. One particularly aggressive subtype is alveolar RMS which is driven by the occurrence of chromosomal translocations resulting in the generation of chimeric or fusion proteins between the PAX3 or PAX7 and the FOXO1 genes. These are known as fusion-positive RMS (FP-RMS) and are associated with reduced relapse-free survival and generally poorer outcomes. But researchers still have limited understanding of how the "fusion" gene itself is driving the tumor, and no subtype-specific therapies exist. Dr. Stanton aims to determine how the fusion gene works with a protein complex known as BAF, to alter the epigenetic state of the cell to keep them dividing and stop the cell from differentiating into mature muscle tissue. His team is exploring the mechanism of how the BAF complex regulates the epigenetic state and memory of the FP-RMS. Furthermore, using small-molecule drugs and genetic depletion strategies (CRISPR) they will determine if FP-RMS tumors are dependent on the BAF complex for survival. Finally, they are working to identify potential novel therapies for patients with aggressive and lethal FP-RMS, to improve their outcome.

The 2021 and 2022 portions of this grant is funded by and named for the Aiden's Army Fund. When he was 8 years old, Aiden Binkley was diagnosed with Stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma. He had a huge tumor in his pelvis and the cancer had metastasized to his lungs. But this bright, funny and courageous boy believed he got cancer so he could grow up to find a cure for it. Aiden’s story has inspired so many people and his vision to cure cancer is being carried on by Aiden’s Army through the funding of research. They will march until there is a cure!

The 2020 and 2023 portions of this grant is funded by and named for by Berry Strong, a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund, established in honor of Caroline Berry. Diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma when she was 14, Caroline endured a two-year battle with courage and determination. Throughout treatments of radiation and chemotherapy and undergoing six surgeries, Caroline was a beacon of hope, unselfishly raising awareness and funding for research so no child would have to endure what she did. After a brief remission, scans revealed Caroline had relapsed and she passed away on Thanksgiving in 2018. Caroline is remembered as a bright light, creative, intelligent, funny and feisty who was always eager to share a smile with others. She continues to be an inspiration through the Berry Strong Hero Fund which will continue her legacy and her passion to raise awareness and fund the most promising childhood cancer research.