Vivekanand Yadav, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine; Research Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Full Biography
Vivekanand Yadav, PhD, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, received a three-year, $250,000 2023 Noah Wilson’s Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research (Noah’s Fund) grant from Noah’s Bandage Project.
The funding is being used for Dr. Yadav’s study, “Determining the Therapeutic Efficacy of Novel Bi-specific CAR T Cells (anti-B7H3-GD2) in H3G34R/Vmutated Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas (pHGGs).” The study looks to test a novel CAR T cell therapy to treat childhood brain tumors, specifically a type called pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) with H3K27M and H3G34R/V mutations.
As Dr. Yadav explains, pHGGs are aggressive brain tumors that are difficult to treat, and traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have limited success.
Dr. Yadav and his team are exploring a new approach with CAR T cell therapy, which involves modifying a patient's immune cells to fight the tumor.
“In this study, we focused on two specific proteins found on the surface of pHGGs cells, called B7-H3 and GD2 and designed special CAR T cells that can recognize and attack these proteins,” explains Dr. Yadav. “We found that the CAR T cells effectively killed the tumor cells and produced immune signals to fight the cancer.”
The research team is investigating the role of the tumor environment in affecting the CAR T cell response using a novel immunocompetent experimental model of pHGGs. The tumor environment can sometimes make it difficult for CAR T cells to work effectively. By understanding how the tumor environment influences CAR T cell activity, they hope to find ways to improve the therapy and make it more successful.
“Our research has transformative potential for childhood brain tumor treatment, specifically DIPG pHGGs, by utilizing CAR T cell therapy to target B7-H3 and GD2 proteins,” said Dr. Yadav. “This approach could provide better outcomes and hope for children and families affected by these devastating tumors. Furthermore, the study's outcomes may extend to other cancer types, broadening the scope of CAR T cell therapy in the future.”