Tools for Pediatric Cancer Drug Discovery

Finding a cure for cancer means knowing what drugs are available and how they are currently performing on the market.  There are any number of sources for this information including personal networking, publications and databases of current research aims and goals.  Drugpath.org is an online database that lists cancer drugs that are currently being developed.  The drugs are listed by a variety of characteristics that allows scientists to search for particulars that are relevant to their interests. 

The database is maintained by a research team of faculty and students at Texas Tech University System and collaborates with the National Center for Integrative Biomedical Informatics (NCIBI).  Both researchers and members of industry can join in order to maximize exposure to new drugs and new applications for both groups. 

Mouse Models

The strength of the PPTI is its use of genetically engineered mouse models to study the effect of drugs on particular kinds of cancer.   In the past, cancer models used mice with weakened or missing immune systems that added in cancer cells to watch their growth (xenografts).  This method has yielded many great results but we know that cancer interacts heavily with the immune system interact so this is a major drawback of the model to consider.  Another concern is the location of the tumors that grow – the cancer cells are added in places that are easy to get to and are not necessarily the natural site of development.  

Both of these issues are addressed in the PPTI models of cancer in that the mice have normal immune systems and are genetically modified so that their tumors begin and expand in the places that are found in patients.  Combined with other changes that allow us to “see” these tumors as they develop we believe that we have a unique opportunity to find effective treatments faster than ever before.