We’re bringing together leaders in cancer research.
Speaker
William A. Weiss, MD, PhD
Evelyn and Mattie Anderson Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
Professor, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Neurological Surgery
UC San Francisco
Co-Leader, Pediatric Malignancies Program
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
“Models and vulnerabilities for brain cancers”
Medulloblastoma is the most common tumor of childhood. Glioblastoma is the most common tumor of adulthood. I will present new models of human group 3 medulloblastoma. We differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells cells to neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells, transduce NES cells with MYC, alone and in combination with other gain of function effectors, and transplant orthotopically into the hindbrain. I will discuss characterization and developmental therapeutics in resulting models. I will also present developmental therapeutic studies in glioblastoma, focusing separately on molecular glues targeting RAS and bi-steric inhibitors of mTORC1. I will discuss screens to identify combination therapies that improve efficacy, as well as separate screens and approaches to enhance delivery to the brain while abrogating peripheral toxicity.