Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumour of childhood, but has the poorest survival rates. Those diagnosed over 1 year of age have a less favourable outlook and often fail to respond even to the most aggressive combinations of therapy. So alternative treatments are needed.
The goal of cancer chemotherapy is targeting tumour cells, with the minimal systematic toxicity to normal tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising vehicles for delivering effective, targeted therapy, to the original tumour mass and metastatic disease that has spread to other parts of body, because there cells can home to tumour tissues. We have already shown that MSCs are able to uptake and subsequently release the chemotherapeutic drugs and inhibit the growth of lung cancer. We have also MSCs as a “Trojan horse” to deliver drugs in stroke.
We aim to extend this cell therapy approach to childhood cancer neuroblastoma, which might prove a more effective, targeted treatment for neuroblastoma and limit toxicity to normal tissues i.e treatment side effects.
Grant Award – Fellowship 2017-2020
Funding Award – £36,000
Funding Awarded to – Professor Mark Slevin
Research Location – Manchester Metropolitan University
Lead Researcher – Professor Mark Slevin
0161 295 3864 