Approximately 40 children are diagnosed with ALL in B.C. each year and, although most will be successfully treated, around one in 10 relapse.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cCurrently, the vast majority of children with ALL receive curative treatment after diagnosis. The issue is treating those 10 per cent of children whose cancer returns,\u201d says Dr. Amanda Lorentzian, first author on the study.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cTo make the best use of precision oncology, we need to better understand how cancers evolve and whether responses to targeted treatments may be gained or lost when it relapses,\u201d says\u00a0Dr. Philipp Lange<\/a>, senior author of the paper, Canada Research Chair and researcher at BCCHR. \u201cThis study is great news for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and their families, and we are incredibly grateful to the research team at the Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program and the BC Children\u2019s Hospital Research Institute for their hard work,\u201d said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. \u201cThe ability for clinicians and researchers to investigate precision treatments for patients with this type of cancer immediately after diagnosis will bring peace of mind to patients and families and provide better outcomes for this type of diagnosis.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n Importantly, the team analyzed changes in the proteome \u2014 the molecules and proteins produced by the cancer cells \u2014 as well as the changes in the cancer\u2019s genes.<\/p>\n\n “In this study we pay particular attention to the proteins, in addition to looking at the underlying genetic factors.\u201d<\/p>\t<\/blockquote>\n\t \u201cTherapies don\u2019t target the genes, they target proteins,\u201d says Dr. Lange, also an associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at UBC. \u201cWhile a lot of research has focused on the genetic variants associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, few studies have investigated how protein levels change between diagnosis and relapse, especially when looking at treatment targets. In this study we pay particular attention to the proteins, in addition to looking at the underlying genetic factors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n As an example of the potential of this combined genomic and proteomic approach, the team found that drugs that target the protein PARP1 \u2014 a molecule involved in DNA repair \u2014 worked well against both initial and relapsed models of ALL. Importantly, drugs that target this pathway, known as PARP inhibitors, would not have been an obvious choice had the cancers only been analyzed at the genetic level.<\/p>\n\n\n \u201cOur study highlights the great potential of treatments selected on the combination of genetic and protein information,\u201d says\u00a0Dr. Christopher Maxwell<\/a>, another senior author of the paper, researcher at BCCHR, and associate professor of pediatrics at UBC.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/brave-initiative\/files\/2025\/01\/amanda-lorentzian.jpg\")
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Precision oncology \u2014 targeted treatment tailored to the unique molecular traits of an individual child\u2019s cancer \u2014 is one of the most hopeful strategies for these children when standard chemotherapy fails.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cBy studying rare samples of ALL progression, we can identify meaningful information about the child\u2019s disease, and its potential vulnerability, starting from initial diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/brave-initiative\/files\/2025\/01\/mcccrp-philipp-lange.jpg\")
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The researchers used patient biopsy samples collected at BC Children\u2019s and stored at\u00a0BC Children\u2019s BioBank<\/a>, as well as publicly available data, to track how cancers changed between initial diagnosis and after the cancer had returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t
\u201cWhen a child is diagnosed with this disease, these types of analyses can help us zero in on more tailored treatments should the cancer return.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/brave-initiative\/files\/2025\/01\/chris-maxwell.jpg\")
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The research team are members of the\u00a0Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program<\/a>, generously supported by funding from\u00a0BC Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Michael Cuccione Foundation<\/a>\u00a0and are part of the Institute\u2019s\u00a0BRAvE Initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n