Biology of childhood hepatoblastoma and the search for novel treatments

Our research laboratory has a longstanding interest in developmental disorders and embryonic tumors, and recent efforts have focused on the pathogenesis of pediatric liver tumors. This review focuses on hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common pediatric liver malignancy. Despite advances in treatment, patients with metastatic HB have a poor prognosis, and survivors often have permanent side effects attributable to chemotherapy. In an effort to improve survival and lessen long-term complications of HB, we have searched for novel molecular vulnerabilities using a combination of patient derived cell lines, metabolomics, and RNA sequencing of human samples at diagnosis and follow-up. These studies have shed light on pathogenesis and identified putative targets for future therapies in children with advanced HB.