Exciting Updates

Some things are changing around here, but many things will stay the same!

HRN is moving in a new direction since obtaining 501(c)3 nonprofit organization status earlier this year. Even though our look may be changing, our organization's mission and vision remain consistent: HRN supports families affected by hepatoblastoma and other pediatric liver cancers by providing credible resources, fostering community, and advancing collaborative care and research. We design programs and partnerships with- not just for- patients, families, and communities. Our team prioritizes listening, learning, and iterating so that our decisions reflect the lived experiences of those we serve.

As we gear up for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month next month, HRN will be rolling out its first peer-to-peer fundraising opportunity! This means you will have the ability to host your own mini fundraiser within our campaign in support of other hepatoblastoma families currently receiving treatment. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to those who have supported us for years, and welcome those new to these parts of the internet. Your support is so important, now more than ever, as we work hard to evolve our organization to make an even greater impact. However that might look for you- a post reshare on social media, a mention to your network, a financial contribution, starting your own fundraiser within our campaign in honor or memory of a Hepatoblastoma kiddo, or something else- we appreciate you greatly!

In another exciting new update, HRN is partnering with Dr. Andras Heczey at Seattle Children's Hospital, who is a Primary Investigator for a Phase I study on armored GPC3-CAR T cells for children with liver cancer. This immunotherapy focuses on Glypican-3 (GPC-3), which is a protein expressed in fetal/embryonal cells. Gene expression of GPC-3 should be silenced upon birth, but is overexpressed in pediatric liver tumor patients (HB ~75%). There is a critical need for new therapeutic options for children with liver cancer, while minimizing the risk of off-target damage to healthy tissues. And for the first time, an immunotherapy approach is actually showing real results in children with solid tumors because these engineered cells are built not just to find the tumor, but to survive long enough to fight it. Our community is very excited about the therapeutic potential of this IL-15 and IL-21 co-expressing GPC3-CAR T-cell program based on its published and emerging results. More information on the study can be found here.

Check back and continue to get the latest news at https://www.hepatoblastoma.org