We have identified a receptor based approach to stimulate cell death in a cell line, termed Daoy, that was derived from a brain tumor isolated from a 4 year old boy. These tumors are termed medulloblastomas (Med) and represent approx. 20% of childhood brain tumors. They account for ~3-4% of new cases and ~7% of cancer-related deaths in Canadian children each year (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2007).  Current treatment paradigms include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy; however, these approaches provide only a 60% success rate.  We have identified a novel pathway that can induce cell death in these cells. This application will determine how this enzyme induces cell death and whether the activation of this enzyme, alone, is sufficient to induce cell death in multiple Med cell lines as well as aggressive brain tumors of adults, termed glioblastomas.