Ellen M. Basu, MD, PhD

In my research, my colleagues and I are working to develop new approaches for treating neuroblastoma with antibodies. In one approach, some of a patient’s T cells (white blood cells) are removed and attached to a specific antibody which recognizes neuroblastoma cells. These modified T cells could then be returned to the patient, where they would recruit other T cells in the body to attack and kill neuroblastoma cells. We expect that this approach could be even more effective than the immunotherapies we use today. I hope my research can help bring new therapies into clinical trials and one day soon improve the survival of children with neuroblastoma.

The team of neuroblastoma experts at Memorial Sloan-Kettering treats more patients with neuroblastoma than any other institution in the world. We have a shared enthusiasm for learning more about this disease and striving to improve the survival of our patients.

When I meet with the parents of a child with neuroblastoma, I listen carefully to what they have to say. Parents know their children better than anyone, and are vital partners in planning and carrying out a child’s treatment.