Research Updates!
2024 MEC Research Updates!
Dr. Brian Van Tine working in his lab at the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
New MEC Project Launched at Washington University in St. Louis!
In 2024, cureMEC was proud to partner with Dr. Brian Van Tine at the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. In August, the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, in partnership with cureMEC, awarded a $50,000 grant to Dr. Van Tine to support his novel childhood cancer research project, "Defining the Surfaceome of EWSR1-KLF15 Myoepithelial Carcinoma." This grant is renewable for one year, meaning this could be a $100,000 grant.
Their study focuses on EWSR1-KLF15 fusion-positive MEC, a subtype of this already rare cancer. The complex biology of these tumors and their resistance to traditional therapies underscores the need for innovative research approaches. By investigating the cell surface proteins expressed by these cancer cells, they aim to identify new therapeutic targets that could ultimately transform the way this disease is treated.
The techniques they are utilizing—mass spectrometry-based cell surface proteomics and RNA sequencing—are at the cutting edge of cancer research. These tools will allow them to define the specific cell surface protein signature of EWSR1-KLF15 MEC, which could pave the way for new therapies, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and cellular therapies.
Genetic Sequencing of MEC Samples:
To begin to understand a cancer that has never been studied, a critical first step is to gather as many tumor samples as possible and perform genetic sequencing on them to understand how a cancer is structured. To date, the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI) has collected 27 MEC samples, sent them for genetic sequencing and analyzed the results looking for trends and characteristics across patient populations. In March 2024, they presented an abstract, “A Functional Genomic Landscape of Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC),” at a UCSF/CHOP conference in San Francisco and have submitted their findings for publication in December 2024. We’re excited for this cureMEC-funded research to get published!
MEC Cell Lines and Mouse Models:
Cell lines and mouse models make it possible for researchers to make faster progress on cancer research, including identifying new potential treatments. In December 2022, one of the tumors that was removed from Sebas’ lung was cut into small pieces and frozen. In September, One of those pieces was sent to UC Santa Cruz and Dr. Shaheen Sikandar implanted it into mice, with the goal of developing a mouse model and eventual cell line. To date, no tumor growth has been observed in the mice but it can take up to a year to grow and we remain hopeful.
In August 2023, cureMEC and the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research co-funded and awarded a $50,000 grant to cc-TDI to generate a genetically-engineered mouse (GEM) model of EWSR1-KLF15 MEC. This summer, the GEM mouse was successfully generated in partnership with Australian contractor, Ozgene! cc-TDI will now share the GEM model by collaboration with other investigators.