Childhood Cancer - Cancer Currents Blog
News about childhood cancer research, with context from leading experts. Topics include new treatments, issues facing childhood cancer survivors, and findings on the biology of cancer in children.
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Selumetinib Continues to Show Promise in Children with NF1In a phase 2 clinical trial, the investigational drug selumetinib shrank tumors in some children with the genetic syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The tumors, called neurofibromas, can cause pain, difficulty breathing or walking, and disfigurement.
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Some Children with Wilms Tumor Can Receive Less Therapy, Study SuggestsResults from an NCI-sponsored clinical trial may point to an important change in how some children with advanced Wilms tumor, a form of kidney cancer, are treated.
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Targeted Therapy Larotrectinib Shows Promise in Early Trials, Regardless of Cancer TypeInitial results from a series of three small clinical trials of a targeted cancer therapy called larotrectinib suggest that it may be effective in patients—children and adults—with a wide variety of cancer types.
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TARGET Study Finds Major Differences between Childhood and Adult AMLAn NCI-funded study has found significant differences in the genetics of acute myeloid leukemia in younger and older patients. The findings could help guide the development of treatments tailored specifically for childhood AML.
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Study Identifies Potential Drug Combination for Ewing SarcomaFrom experiments in cells and mice, researchers have identified a two-drug combination that kills more Ewing sarcoma cells than either drug on its own. The study findings could help inform future clinical trials.
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Kids First Pediatric Research Program Moves ForwardProgress continues to be made with the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Program, which is creating opportunities for investigators from different research communities to share resources and collaborate on research into childhood cancers and certain birth defects.
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CAR T-Cell Therapy Approved for Some Children and Young Adults with LeukemiaFDA has approved tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah™), a type of immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy, for some children and young adults with advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
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Crizotinib Shows Promise for Childhood CancersIn a small clinical trial, the drug crizotinib shrank tumors in children with cancers that have alterations in the ALK gene.
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Studies Identify Potential Treatment Strategies for Pediatric DIPG Brain TumorsTwo studies have identified proteins that drive growth of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) tumor cells. Blocking these targets with investigational drugs slowed tumor growth in animal models.
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Avelumab Becomes First Approved Treatment for Patients with Merkel Cell CarcinomaThe FDA has approved the first drug ever for the rare skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, and updated data show an improved tumor response rate and that patients’ tumors continued to respond for at least a year.
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New Mouse Model Closely Mimics Most Common Leukemia in InfantsResearchers have created a long-sought-after mouse model for an aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that occurs commonly in infants and that the researchers believe can accelerate the development of new therapies for the disease.
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TARGET Initiative Fueling Progress against Childhood LeukemiaResearch from TARGET, an NCI-funded program supporting genomic analyses of childhood cancers, has led to the launch of several clinical trials of targeted therapies to treat children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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The Impact and Future of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: An Interview with Greg Armstrong, M.D.Dr. Greg Armstrong of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study discusses this long-running study and its future.
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Toward Precision Therapy for Children with Cancer: An Interview with Dr. Javed KhanNCI’s Dr. Javed Khan discusses a new NCI clinical program and the promise and challenges of genome-guided therapy for children with cancer.
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New Drug for Pediatric Neuroblastoma Shows Promise in Preclinical StudiesAn international research team has identified a possible new treatment target for pediatric neuroblastoma and is planning an early-stage clinical trial of a drug that inhibits this target.
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Study Sheds Light on Role of Inherited Mutations in Childhood CancerIn the most comprehensive study of its kind conducted to date, more than 8 percent of children with cancer were found to have inherited genetic mutations associated with a predisposition to the disease.
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For Some Children with Cancer, Genomic Information May Help Guide Treatment DecisionsGenomic methods, such as DNA sequencing, may help doctors manage the treatment of children and young adults with cancer.
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NCI Initiative to Speed Development of Childhood Cancer TherapiesNCI has awarded grants to five research teams to participate in its Pediatric Preclinical Testing Consortium, which is intended to help to prioritize which agents to pursue in pediatric clinical trials.
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Cancer Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors Continues for DecadesSurvivors of childhood cancer have an elevated risk of developing second, distinct cancers into their forties and beyond, according to a new study.
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Setting the Course: Genomics Workshop on Childhood Cancers Identifies Research OpportunitiesNCI recently convened a workshop to discuss the status of genomic characterization for childhood cancers and to identify opportunities for future research.