Funded Grants

F.L.A.G. GRANT

Grantee: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Project Lead: Dr. Katrina O’Halloran & Dr. Ashley Margol
Grant Title: Cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy in pediatric embryonal central nervous system tumors
Grant Type: F.L.A.G Grant
Year Awarded: 2023
Amount: $50,000
Duration: 1 year

Summary: Brain and spinal cord tumors continue to be a major cause of both illness and death in children. Tumor DNA sequencing has provided important insight into the drivers of different cancers. Detecting tumor DNA in spinal fluid by performing DNA sequencing as a “liquid biopsy” can help in making a diagnosis, monitoring response to treatment, and predicting risk for relapse. For example, researchers have shown that if medulloblastoma DNA is detectable at the completion of therapy, there is higher risk for relapse for that child.

Liquid biopsy technology using spinal fluid has been developed at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In pilot studies, the platform successfully detected a variety of tumor DNA alterations in various tumors including medulloblastoma, ependymoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, diffuse midline glioma (including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), high grade glioma and low-grade tumors (including pilocytic astrocytoma). In this project we propose serial spinal fluid liquid biopsy assessments in children diagnosed with embryonal brain and spinal cord tumors.  Liquid biopsies will be performed at diagnosis, during treatment, at the end of therapy, during surveillance and at relapse.

Importantly, results of liquid biopsy testing will be provided as a report and the clinical team may use this information to modify and optimize treatment.  In numerous prior patients, a liquid biopsy in conjunction with the overall clinical picture has led to a change in therapy for personalized treatment. It is our hope that this technology will help to improve outcomes for children with brain and spinal cord tumors.