Dr. Zsuzsanna Nagy, a young scientist, needs our support to conduct ground-breaking research, which could mean a new treatment option that would improve the long-term survival of children suffering from high-risk neuroblastoma.

Therapeutic targeting of ALYREF-mediated MYCN turnover in high risk neuroblastoma

Our world class Neuroblastoma Australia Scientific Advisory Board strongly recommended we fund this project during our recent grants round due to the quality of research, innovation, excellence of the team and very real potential to make a real difference particularly to children with MYCN present in their tumours who have the worst survival rates among all neuroblastoma patients. 

Project Update

This project will now be led by Dr. Kevin Wang as Dr. Nagy is moving to the United States. Dr. Kevin Wang obtained his PhD from Lens Research Laboratory at the University of Sydney in 2008 and joined the Children’s Cancer Institute in 2021. His study will focus on developing novel therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. 

There is no prevention for childhood cancer 

A hallmark of neuroblastoma is biological heterogeneity among individual tumours, that account for rapid disease progression and treatment failure. Survival rates for neuroblastoma have lagged well behind many other child cancer types.

There is an urgent need for more effective therapies to improve the survival as well as the quality of life for neuroblastoma patients. Dr Zsuzsanna Nagy

80% of neuroblastoma patients carry a mutation in chromosome 17

Although this genetic abnormality is the most powerful predictor of poor outcome for neuroblastoma patients, to date, no specific drugs have been introduced for treatment.

We investigated chromosome 17 and identified a novel set of genes that regulate neuroblastoma growth. Our investigation revealed that these genes lead to the abnormal build-up of MYCN in neuroblastoma cells. Dr Zsuzsanna Nagy 

MYCN is a gene that drives aggressive and rapid tumour progression by causing excessive cancer cell growth and spread throughout the body. As MYCN gives neuroblastoma cells a fundamental growth advantage, children with MYCN present in their tumours have the worst survival rates among all neuroblastoma patients.  

What the project hopes to achieve

The goal of the study is to develop a therapeutic strategy that target the crosstalk between chromosome 17 and MYCN in neuroblastoma.

The Children's Cancer Institute has pioneered a new research technology with the Drug Discovery Centre, a unique world-class biomedical facility dedicated to developing novel therapeutic approaches for childhood cancer. 

With successful project outcome we will be able to introduce a new treatment option which holds great potential in promptly improving the long-term survival of  children  suffering  from  high-risk  neuroblastoma.

It all adds up

Whether you can contribute a little or a lot, every donation is important. It all adds up to make a big difference to children battling this aggressive cancer.

Please help us support Dr. Nagy find a better, more effective treatment for the children's cancer neuroblastoma today.

More information 

• CCI neuroblastoma research projects funded by Neuroblastoma Australia