Cure Cancer and The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher Dr Ben Wylie announced new potential treatment in time for Childhood Sarcoma Awareness month.
Every year, more than 75 children aged under 15 will be diagnosed with sarcoma in Australia. Sadly, two in five children diagnosed with this common childhood cancer will die from it. Sarcoma is an aggressive cancer type affecting the bone and soft tissues. While it is considered a rare cancer in adults, it disproportionately affects children and adolescents, accounting for 20 per cent of the cancers diagnosed in the under-20 age group.
For solid cancers like sarcoma, the first-line treatment is often surgical removal. However, if the entire tumour cannot be completely removed, the remaining cancer cells will lead to cancer recurrence. Unfortunately, paediatric sarcoma patients are known to have a high risk of cancer recurrence. For recurrent cancers, treatments may cause severe, life-long effects or be ineffective, leading to death.
2024-2025 Cure Cancer grant recipient Dr Ben Wylie’s new research has the potential to change this.
Dr Wylie and his team have developed a biodegradable gel that surgeons can apply locally during cancer removal surgery on children with sarcoma. The gel will release mRNA-based immunotherapy drugs in the surgical area, which act as messengers to activate the immune system to seek out and destroy cancer cells. As the gel is naturally broken down by the body, the drugs are slowly released over time, reducing the need for children to stay in hospital for gruelling follow-up treatments and allowing them to return home to their families sooner. The team’s aim is to develop kinder therapies for children with cancer, to replace or reduce chemotherapy.
“I know so many people who have been impacted by cancer,” Dr Wylie said.
“Cancer research felt like an area where I could make a real difference. This project will allow me to do cutting-edge research that has the potential to lead to new treatments for cancer patients, ones that are more effective and have less side effects compared to current options.”
Nikki Kinloch, Cure Cancer CEO said: “Cure Cancer is thrilled to be funding Dr Wylie’s groundbreaking research project.
“Dr Wylie has recognised the potential of mRNA, an emerging technology famously used in the COVID-19 vaccine, to address a significant issue in the treatment of childhood sarcoma. Thanks to him and his team, young patients may soon be able to receive safer and more effective treatment, giving much needed hope to so many families.”
Dr Wylie is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Sarcoma Translational Research Group at the Telethon Kids Cancer Centre and University of Western Australia. He graduated in 2018 with a PhD specialising in immunology and immunotherapy. As a student, he was fascinated by the complexities of the immune system and how it keeps our bodies safe from illness. This attracted him to his current research: Designing new therapies to harness the immune system to fight sarcoma.
About Cure Cancer
Cure Cancer is dedicated to backing brave thinking and kick-starting new ideas in cancer research. By funding the top 1% of bright new projects led by the most brilliant minds in science, they contribute to saving millions of lives. Their community of fundraisers, partners, researchers, and institutions work tirelessly to take on every cancer and find the most impactful solutions, working together to bring them to life in record time.