Tumor Study in Down Syndrome Lead to Bladder Cancer Treatment

The chance of acquiring and passing away from solid tumor malignancies, such as bladder cancer, is reduced in people with Down syndrome. In order to discover new therapies for bladder malignancies, John Taylor, MD, deputy director of the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is researching cancer resistance in this population.

Taylor, one of two winners of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Innovation Award in July, is also co-leader of Drug Discovery Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. The $300,000 award will support Taylor’s research into the molecular factors that influence persons with Down syndrome’s decreased risk of this cancer. This information will be utilized to create novel medications that specifically target these cellular pathways and slow the spread of the illness.

Taylor’s lab has previously carried out a pilot study using a mouse model that identified some genetic changes that may be the target of a new medication. “With support from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Innovation Award, we can continue to explore this finding and dive deeper into mechanisms and pathways involved with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for those with bladder cancer,” said Taylor.

Bladder cancer is the sixth most prevalent type of malignancy in the United States, however, it is not well understood as a public health issue. Despite the fact that over 700,000 Americans have this cancer and that there are about 80,000 new cases identified each year, funding for research into new treatments has lagged for many years. In addition, bladder cancer is one of the most expensive malignancies to treat due to its high recurrence rate despite having a reasonably high five-year survival rate.

As a consequence of a “wonderful collaboration” between Taylor’s lab, the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation at KU Medical Center, and the Down syndrome community, the research project supported by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Innovation award was created, according to Taylor.