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Pediatric Brain Tumor Laboratory
The pediatric neurosurgery program at Columbia University is actively involved in basic and translational research of brain tumors in children and adolescents. In conjunction with The Bartoli Brain Tumor Research Laboratory , Dr. Anderson is investigating how the immune system interacts with childhood brain tumors. Primary brain tumors are the most common solid cancer among children, and medulloblastomas (MEDs) are the most frequent malignant brain tumor in pediatric patients. Unfortunately, many young children cannot be treated with standard therapies (radiation or chemotherapy) because of significant adverse effects on the developing central nervous system. Accordingly, we believe that the discovery and use of an appropriate immunotherapeutic strategy for MEDs, in conjunction with current chemotherapies, could significantly improve the current treatment of this disease. Recent data have demonstrated that cells of the immune system (including T cells, B cells, and monocytes/macrophages) frequently infiltrate pediatric MEDs, suggesting that immunity could impact tumor survival. We hypothesize that pediatric MEDs avoid immune attack by up-regulation of non-functional “decoy” receptors against death receptor ligands and cytokines that would lead to growth arrest or killing. Therefore, we are seeking a better understanding of the role of these receptors in the malignancy and survival of pediatric MEDs, which may lead to novel immunotherapeutic strategies.
Richard C.E. Anderson, M.D.
Department of Neurological Surgery
Neurological Institute
710 West 168 Street
New York, New York 10032
(212) 305-0219
rca24@columbia.edu