People with Fanconi anemia (FA) face a high risk of cancer, but their difficulty repairing DNA can make some cancer treatments especially harmful. This project examines two questions: Which compounds might help prevent cancer, and which cancer treatment drugs might be safer for people with FA?

With FCF funding, researchers are testing potential prevention compounds in FA mouse models and screening chemotherapy drugs for FA-specific toxicity. The work includes collaboration with cancer specialist Barbara Burtness, MD.

This research is preclinical. Continued testing could help researchers identify which approaches warrant further study, while ruling out drugs that may cause unacceptable harm.