Suzanne Baker Lab

We established a large collection of patient-derived xenograft models shared with the research community through pbtp.stjude.cloud. These powerful models are complemented by genetically engineered models, primary cultures of patient-derived cell lines and organoids for mechanistic studies and preclinical testing of targeted therapies. Complex data sets from RNA-seq, single cell profiling, ChIP-seq, and additional platforms are integrated to examine relationships between epigenetics and gene expression changes underlying tumor biology. We dissect mechanisms through molecular, biochemical and imaging approaches coupled with gene editing, knockdown or chemical inhibition to introduce pHGG mutations or disrupt critical pathways in these model systems.

A pressing research question is why recurrent point mutations in histone H3 cause region-specific cancer growth in the developing brain. We leverage model systems that faithfully recapitulate developmental context to investigate the functional consequences of pHGG-associated mutations. We investigate different cell populations and developmental time points to determine how these mutations affect development, cell lineages and cell states. In parallel, we examine pHGG-associated mutations and pathway perturbations to identify molecular signatures, impact on glioma growth and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.