New Investigator Grant Awarded to Deblina Sarkar

Current treatments for DIPG, including targeting specific enzymes and radiation therapy, have limited success, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative solutions. Bioelectricity is a fundamental factor regulating cell structure and functions. Modulation of bioelectricity with high spatio-temporal precision can enable a novel paradigm for treating standard-therapy-resistant cancer such as DIPG. However, currently no existing technology can provide this due to inability to achieve the electric field with required intensity and precision localized at tumor site in vivo, that is compatible with human translation for DIPG. While surface electrodes are unable to provide the necessary electric field intensity deep in the brain, surgical implantation of penetrating electrodes at tumor site poses risks of injury to eloquent structures, in and near the brainstem. Moreover, DIPG is highly infiltrative in nature and the small growing tumors are challenging to detect through imaging to even enable surgical implantation.

The proposed work aims to develop the first non-surgical brain implant to enable bioelectric therapy for DIPG based on our preliminary results and feasibility studies. In this technology, nanoelectronic devices travel through body’s internal roadways i.e., the vasculature and autonomously recognize the tumor regions (even those non detectable through imaging) and self-implant even reaching the very core of the tumor, without the need for any surgery. These devices have the capability to create remote controlled electric fields in situ with flexibility to tune field intensity, frequency and other parameters without affecting non tumor regions, thus achieving unprecedented efficacy in selectively destroying tumor cells as well as preventing regrowth and invasion. Moreover, it can reduce the therapy time to only few minutes per day using a portable or wearable device and obviates need for shaving the head, thus, it can significantly improve patient’s quality of life. This technology, when used in combination, can even increase the efficacy of chemotherapy as well as radiation. This technology by enabling self-recognition of tumor regions and creating a novel paradigm for localized electric field along with enhancement of the efficacy of existing therapies when used in combination, has the potential to significantly increase the overall survival rate of the patients. Remarkably, the cost of mass-producing these nanoelectronic devices is minimal, which along with elimination of surgery costs makes the technology not only cutting-edge but also potentially accessible to people over a broad socioeconomic spectrum. In essence, this innovative therapy could redefine the landscape of DIPG treatment, bringing a ray of hope to affected children and their families.