Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) is one of the rarest and most aggressive brain tumors affecting very young children, and relapse is heartbreakingly common. Dr. Johannes Gojo of the Medical University of Vienna is leading a forward-thinking research project to understand why ETMR tumors return and how resistant cancer cells manage to survive treatment.
This preclinical study closely examines ETMR tumors at both diagnosis and relapse, focusing not only on the cancer cells themselves but also on the tumor microenvironment—the surrounding cells and signals that help tumors grow, hide, and resist therapy. By mapping these interactions in detail, Dr. Gojo’s team aims to uncover hidden weaknesses in ETMR that could be exploited with innovative new treatments, including CAR T-cell immunotherapies.
Supported by a strong international collaboration—including the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation, Solving Kids’ Cancer, the Bibi Fund, The Jonah Finn Foundation, and Gold Ribbon Kids Cancer Foundation—this project offers new hope for more effective, durable treatments for children facing ETMR.
