The incidence of head and neck malignancies among children has increased substantially in the last five decades. The immunosuppressive tumor micro-environment (TME) represents a major roadblock in the treatment of head and neck tumors. We have demonstrated previously that an elevated level of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in the tumor correlates directly with a poor prognosis, and that MDSC levels can be reduced using inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In this pre-clinical study, we utilized non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nanoparticle contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to monitor tumor responses to TME-directed combinatorial therapies that included iNOS inhibition, immunomodulation, checkpoint inhibition, and radiation. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2020 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2020

Authors: Devkota Laxman, Bhavane Rohan, Badachhape Andrew, Veeramachaneni Ratna, Stupin Igor, Bhandari Prajwal, Ghaghada Ketan, Sikora Andrew, Annapragada Ananth

Keywords: Immunotherapy, Tumor, Imaging

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common non-cranial solid tumor in childhood. The MYCN oncogene plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in NB and is a strong indicator of poor prognosis. The tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-MYCN transgenic mouse model of NB is extensively utilized; however, little is known about disease progression in this model. In this work, we use multi-modal imaging to study tumor progression and vascular architecture in TH-MYCN transgenic, allograft, and syngeneic mouse models of NB. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2020 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2020

Authors: Badachhape Andrew, Tao Ling, Joshi Sanshuv, Devkota Laxman, Stupin Igor, Sarkar Poonam, Annapragada Ananth, Barbieri Eveline, Ghaghada Ketan

Keywords: Neuroblastoma, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Tumor