$150K to Dr Shannon Oda at Seattle Children's for Rhabdomyosarcoma research

Catalyzing Anticancer Immunity in Pediatric RMS with Next-Gen Engineered CAR-T

Shannon Oda, Ph.D.

Seattle Children’s Hospital 

$150,000

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents. While many patients respond to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, outcomes remain poor for children whose cancer returns or spreads. Researchers at Seattle Children's Hospital are working to develop a new generation of CAR-T cell therapy designed specifically to overcome the barriers that have limited success against solid tumors like rhabdomyosarcoma.

This project focuses on engineering CAR-T cells to recognize FGFR4, a protein found on many rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The team will enhance these CAR-T cells with additional features that help them survive within the tumor and remain active for longer periods of time. They will also test strategies to reprogram immune cells called macrophages, which tumors often use to suppress the body's natural immune response. By helping CAR-T cells persist and transforming the tumor environment into one that supports immune attack, the researchers hope to create a more effective treatment for children with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma. The results will lay the groundwork for future clinical trials and could provide new approaches for treating other pediatric solid tumors as well.

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