Evaluation of GD-2, HER2, and B7H3 Expression in Pediatric Ependymomas

• Grant number: 24/23904-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Aparecida Teixeira
• Grantee: Mariana Olimpio dos Santos Remiro
• Host Institution: Hospital do Câncer de Barretos. Fundação Pio XII (FP). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ependymomas are the third most common type of brain tumor in children, remaining incurable at the time of recurrence. These tumors can arise throughout the neuroaxis, including the supratentorial brain, posterior fossa, and spinal cord. While they affect both adults and children, posterior fossa tumors are more common in children, whereas supratentorial and spinal tumors prevail in adults. Clinical variability is high, with some patients experiencing a rapidly fatal course, while others may have slower progression, with recurrences occurring up to 20 years after initial treatment. Despite histopathological similarities, ependymomas are highly heterogeneous tumors, making treatment challenging.The standard clinical treatment includes maximum surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, while chemotherapy has not shown a clear benefit in overall patient survival. A promising approach in tumor treatment has been immunotherapy, particularly using CAR-T cells (chimeric antigen receptor T cells). Therefore, to identify markers that can be used as therapeutic targets, this project proposes investigating the expression of surface markers such as GD2, HER2, and B7H3 in different subtypes of pediatric ependymomas using immunohistochemistry techniques. Identifying epitopes consistently present across different ependymoma subgroups may help guide further research and personalize treatment for patients affected by these various subtypes. (AU)