Researchers in the group of Associate Professor Ninib Baryawno, Department of Women's and Children's Health, KI, have released their publication "Comparative Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Human Neuroblastoma and Preclinical Models Reveals Conservation of an Adrenergic Cell State" in the Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
They have made significant strides in the fight against pediatric cancer by studying tumors of the nervous system, particularly neuroblastoma. By combining basic and translational research, the Baryawno Lab utilizes advanced technologies such as single-cell analysis and functional preclinical testing to explore the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance.
Exploring the Complexity of Pediatric Cancer
Neuroblastoma, a heterogeneous and complex pediatric cancer, lies at the core of the group's efforts. Its wide variation in chemosensitivity and resistance presents a major challenge to developing effective treatments.
"One of the biggest barriers in creating new cancer therapies is the development of preclinical models that accurately reflect human disease," Bethel Embaie , PhD student, explains.
To address this, the group has studied genetically engineered models that spontaneously develop neuroblastoma while maintaining an intact immune system. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, they have analyzed tumor tissues at an unprecedented resolution, mapping the diverse cellular and molecular components of the tumor and its microenvironment. These insights have enabled the creation of ex vivo tumoroid models that faithfully replicate the complexity of patient tumors.
The Next Steps in the Fight Against Cancer
The future of this research is promising. The next steps include utilizing the tumoroid culture systems for high-throughput drug screening and CRISPR-based functional genomics studies. The group also aims to expand the platform to model metastatic disease in neuroblastoma and create patient-derived xenograft (PDX) organoids.
"These advancements will not only accelerate the discovery of effective cancer therapies but also bring us closer to personalized treatment strategies for pediatric tumors," says Bethel.
With their innovative approaches and technological advancements, the research group is at the forefront of pediatric cancer studies, offering hope for transforming the future for children with cancer worldwide.
