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Pediatric Glioma Has No Cure. Dr. Breunig is Taking on the Challenge.

Dr. Joshua Breunig
Dr. Joshua Breunig

Pediatric glioma, a devastating brain cancer affecting children and young adults, poses significant challenges in treatment due to its aggressive nature, limited therapeutic options, and the long-term side effects. The urgent need for more effective treatment options drives researchers like Dr. Breunig to innovate. One major obstacle in developing these treatments has been the absence of accurate preclinical models for testing potential therapies. Dr. Breunig’s groundbreaking approach, utilizing MADR (Mosaic Analysis with Dual Recombinases), enables the creation of personalized brain tumor models, including those mimicking H3 G34-mutant glioma, providing valuable insights into tumor behavior.

Dr. Breunig found that pediatric gliomas need arginine to stay alive. His research has revealed a significant vulnerability in pediatric gliomas: their dependence on external sources of arginine for survival. Building upon this discovery, he is investigating the potential of ADI-PEG 20, an enzyme that reduces arginine levels in the body, as a targeted therapeutic combined with standard-of-care treatments. The promising outcomes of his research hold potential for a transformative shift in the treatment approach for pediatric glioma patients. Collaborating with fellow experts, Dr. Breunig is actively preparing for a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of ADI-PEG 20 in pediatric glioma patients, with the aim of improving survival outcomes and offering hope to families navigating this critical disease.