Final Report Summary - SENESCENCE THERAPY ('Pro-senescence' therapy in pediatric brain tumours)
Medulloblastoma (M) and neuroblastoma (N) are two main intra- and extra-cranial paediatric tumours. While these tumours are usually associated with alteration of the proto-oncogenes c- myc and n-myc, they retain a normal PTEN and p53 status. Therefore, these represent an ideal model system to test the efficacy of novel 'pro-senescence' compounds either alone or in combination. The primary aim of this Marie Curie project is to demonstrate the efficacy of the novel PTEN inhibitor, VO-OHpic, in this model system. Secondary aim of this project is to test the potential synergy between VO-OHpic and the compounds that can stabilize p53 such as the MDM-2 inhibitor, Nutlin-3, and different DNA damage agents (i.e. X-radiation). Giving the current effort in identifying novel non-cytotoxic compounds for the treatments of paediatric tumours our project has provide additional therapeutics options to the cure of these frequent paediatric tumours.