‘Eyes Absent’ Gene Investigation in Ewing’s Sarcoma Patients

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

Based on laboratory investigation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, researchers have found that a gene called ‘Eyes Absent’ (EYA) plays a critical role in Ewing’s sarcoma and, more importantly, may provide a promising new target for treating Ewing’s sarcoma patients. Dr. Hegde, with the support of Drs. Pressey and Szabo, intend to determine the role of EYA in tumor growth, spread, and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. They will also study promising new agents that inhibit the function of EYA.

Ultimately, they anticipate that their findings may shed light on the biology underlying Ewing’s sarcoma and translate into the discovery of improved treatments for Ewing’s sarcoma and other cancers. This project will pair Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s pediatric oncology sarcoma physicians with expert pathologists and world-class laboratory scientists, offering hope to the many Ewing’s sarcoma patients that are diagnosed each year.