Molecular mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity after chemotherapy treatment of childhood cancers

Investigating why some chemotherapies cause dangerous fluid build-up in the lungs of childhood cancer patients

Each year 1900 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK alone. Thanks to advances in science survival rates have improved. However, treatments like chemotherapies cause acute damage to children’s during treatment and these need to be carefully managed to prevent dangerous side effects of treatment.

At the University of Salford researchers are looking at ways to prevent dangerous side effects when common chemotherapy drugs are used before bone marrow transplants. A common side effect of these drugs is the build-up of fluid in the lungs of patients, which can make it difficult for the child to breath.

This project looks at the chemotherapy Busulphan, and its effects on the normal cells in the lung that causes the build-up of fluid in the lungs. It is hoped that by identifying markers released by the lung cells that researchers can find ways to monitor the dangerous fluid build up caused when Busulphan is administered, so that the treatment can be made safer for the child..

Project Title: Molecular mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity after chemotherapy treatment of childhood cancers
Grant Award – Project is currently under review
Funding Award – £2,000
Research Location – University of Salford
Lead Researcher – Dr. Pika Miklavc & Dr. Arijit Mukhopadhyay

This project is currently under review. Project details will be published once project is funded.