Developmental and therapeutic implications of IL4ra expression for rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a solid tumor whose metastatic progression can be accelerated through interleukin-4 receptor alpha (Il4ra) mediated interaction with normal muscle stem cells (satellite cells). To understand the function of Il4ra in this tumor initiation phase of RMS, we conditionally deleted Il4ra in genetically-engineered RMS mouse models. Nullizygosity of Il4ra altered the latency, site and/or stage distribution of RMS tumors compared to IL4RA intact models.

SMARCA4 biology in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and phenocopies a muscle precursor that fails to undergo terminal differentiation. The alveolar subtype (ARMS) has the poorest prognosis and represents the greatest unmet medical need for RMS. Emerging evidence supports the role of epigenetic dysregulation in RMS.

Preclinical therapeutics ex ovo quail eggs as a biomimetic automation-ready xenograft platform.

Preclinical cancer research ranges from in vitro studies that are inexpensive and not necessarily reflective of the tumor microenvironment to mouse studies that are better models but prohibitively expensive at scale. Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays utilizing Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are a cost-effective screening method to precede and minimize the scope of murine studies for anti-cancer efficacy and drug toxicity. To increase the throughput of CAM assays we have built and optimized an 11-day platform for processing up to 200 quail eggs per screening to evaluate drug efficacy and drug toxicity caused by a therapeutic.