Pediatric Solid Tumor Metabolism [A Prospective Study Exploring Metabolism of Solid Tumors in Pediatrics]

Pediatric Solid Tumor Metabolism [A Prospective, Single Center Study Exploring Solid Tumor Metabolism of Extra-cranial Tumors in the Pediatric Population]

To explore metabolic phenotypes of children with extra-cranial solid tumors and compare these with their histopathological and genetic alterations to discover potential novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve outcomes in children with high risk disease.

The principal objective of this study is the metabolic characterization of pediatric solid tumors, with a particular focus on neuroblastoma (NBL) and fusion positive sarcoma (FPS), which will allow the detection of tumor specific metabolic alterations that can be exploited with the aim of developing novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers.

Cellular metabolism studies provide insight, in a complementary way to genomics, into processes acting downstream from oncogenes and oncogenic fusion proteins, and such insight may point toward previously unrecognized therapeutic targets or onco-metabolites that are traceable as robust biomarkers for response. The investigator's new approach to use an in-vivo comprehensive analysis of metabolic reprograming in FPS/NBL has never been performed in childhood FPS/NBL and will complement genomics studies for these cancers. For this study, the investigators plan to obtain tumor samples at time of surgical biopsy/resection and study their metabolic signatures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Suspected malignancy
• Age ≤ 26 years and being cared for at Children's Medical Center
• Ability to undergo standard of care diagnostic procedure, including biopsy or resection of the tumor, in the OR or IR at CMC

Exclusion Criteria:

• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Any other medical condition that prevents administration of glucose