ABSTRACT
One of the great achievements in medical sciences is the improved survival rate among children diagnosed with
cancer. Although estimates indicate the 5-year survival rate of children diagnosed with a malignancy is near
80%, most of these individuals prior to the age of 40 demonstrate indices of physical limitation normally
associated with the elderly population. Among the treatments received by pediatric cancer patients is multimodal
fractionated x-ray irradiation and chemotherapy. Both induce genotoxic stress that eliminates proliferative cancer
cells; however, multifarious direct and indirect effects of radiation and chemotherapy can negatively impact
normal tissue growth and maintenance especially in actively growing populations. Phenotypes observed earlier
in pediatric cancer survivors is the accelerated onset of frailty indices such as neuromuscular decline. In a murine
model, we find weeks after image guided pediatric fractionated x-ray irradiation of hindlimbs reduced skeletal
muscle fiber size, impaired neuromuscular function, fibrosis, and activation of stress related p53 gene
expression. Among the p53 regulated genes elevated weeks after pediatric fractionated radiation is Growth
Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), a regulator of food intake and body weight in response to stressors such as
cancer therapies. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNASeq) analysis revealed radiation induced GDF15
expression was restricted to muscle resident endothelial cells. Also, we identified a subpopulation of
neuromuscular junction associated muscle resident mesenchymal progenitor cells expressing the receptor
tyrosine kinase Ret that is implicated in mediating GDF15 activity. We find in our murine model of multimodal
pediatric cancer treatment and survivorship, deficits in body weight gain and exacerbation of neuromuscular
related phenotypes observed with fractionated radiation alone. Therefore, our long-term goal is to rigorously
characterize the mechanisms whereby treatment related GDF15 expression impacts neuromuscular related
phenotypes in our murine model of multimodal pediatric cancer therapy and survivorship. Ideally, such insight
would be used to uncover interventions to attenuate pediatric cancer treatment related neuromuscular decline
that increases morbidity and burdens survivors. To accomplish our objectives, we will utilize, assessment of
skeletal muscle integrity, neuromuscular function, imaging analysis, mouse genetics, scRNAseq analysis, flow
cytometry, gene expression analysis, pharmacological treatments, and measures of body weight and food intake.
The specific aims of this proposal are 1) determine if endothelial cell specific loss of p53 or GDF15 knockout
impacts pediatric cancer treatment related fibrosis and neuromuscular deficits, and 2) examine whether Ret
activity regulates pediatric cancer treatment related fibrosis and neuromuscular deficits.
