The Role of p53 and MDM2 Expression in Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma

Additional contributors: Carlos Manivel; Simona Ognjanovic (faculty mentor).Rhabdomyosarcoma is a highly malignant and fast growing tumor that accounts for over half of the soft tissue sarcomas diagnosed in children. Seventy percent of all cases of this cancer are diagnosed in a child’s first ten years of life. This study focused on the alveolar and embryonal classifications of rhabdomyosarcoma. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common but also most treatable form of RMS. Conversely, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is the most aggressive and elusive form. My research examined the make-up of these tumors. Specifically, I measured the expression of cellular and nuclear components in human tumor tissues using immunohistochemistry staining. I focused on identifying the presence of three different proteins: 1) p53 tumor suppressor gene/protein, 2) MDM2 regulator of p53, and 3) NFkB nuclear transcription factor. It is expected that there should be an increased expression of the three investigated proteins in the tissue if they do indeed play a role in the proliferation of tumor cells. The results of this research are very important in the search for a cure to this devastating childhood cancer. Based upon the revealed composition of this specific type of tumor and the correlation between protein/gene pathways, new treatment and prevention methods could be discovered for rhabdomyosarcoma and other similar cases