CAC2 Childhood Cancer Community News Digest (January 31-February 6)

Assorted news from last week:

The White House announced the reigniting of the Cancer Moonshot on February 2.  Two prominent items related to the childhood cancer community:

• To speed progress against the most deadly and rare cancers, including childhood cancers — Today, we know cancer as a disease for which we lack good strategies for developing treatments against many of the more than 200 distinct types. We can invest in a robust pipeline for new treatments, and the COVID-19 pandemic response has demonstrated we can accelerate clinical trials without compromising safety and effectiveness.
• To support patients, caregivers, and survivors — Today, we know cancer as a disease in which we do not do enough to help people and families navigate cancer and its aftermath. We can help people overcome the medical, financial, and emotional burdens that cancer brings by providing support to navigate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.

In a new study, scientists at the Princess Máxima Center compared the effectiveness of RNA sequencing with traditional methods that allow scientists to specifically search the DNA and RNA for known gene changes. The study was published in the journal JCO Precision Oncology.

Many parents of children with cancer experienced challenges in the therapeutic relationship with their child’s treating oncologist, according to study results published in JAMA Network Open.  Researchers additionally found that parent and clinician perspectives often differed. Consequently, clinicians frequently did not recognize the challenges parents experienced.

The FDA has granted a rare pediatric disease designation to the bone-targeting radiopharmaceutical, Samarium-153-DOTMP (CycloSam), for use as a potential therapeutic option for patients with osteosarcoma.

Many caregivers expressed hesitancy to vaccinate themselves and their children who had cancer against COVID-19, according to study results published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer.

Upcoming Webinars and Online Opportunities:

Please register to attend the 10th ACCELERATE Paediatric Oncology Conference, February 10-11 2022 (EU afternoons, US mornings).  The annual ACCELERATE Conference aims to strengthen international cooperation between academia, parent groups, biopharma companies, regulatory bodies and HTA bodies to improve and speed up the global development of new paediatric oncology drugs.

At 9:00 ET on Tuesday, February 15th in celebration of International Childhood Cancer Day 2022, CHOC will host a webinar to pay tribute to the medical team, healthcare workers and the multi-disciplinary team involved in the childhood cancer journey of hope.  Keynote speaker will be HRH Princess Dina Mired from Jordan – global patron for SIOP and a passionate advocate for childhood cancer.  Registration link.

Session 2 of the online course, Cancer and the Environment Forum where participants will learn about the new science on the influence of environmental chemicals on cancer, including children.  Registration Link.

On Friday, February 25 at 1:00 ET, just ahead of the international observance of Rare Disease Day, the NIH Common Fund-supported Gabriella Miller Kids First Data Resource Center (Kids First DRC) invites you to join  a virtual Community Open House event, to learn more about the incredible resources available to the pediatric research community.  Registration Link.

Rare Disease Day at NIH will be held virtually on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. This year’s event will feature panel discussions, rare diseases stories, virtual exhibitors and scientific posters.  Registration and Information Link.

Recordings of Recent Past Events:

OncLive presents Wayne Furman, MD, a member of the Department of Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, discussing the rarity of pediatric neuroblastoma, treatment options and expected outcomes for patients, and ongoing clinical trials in this space.

Take Action:

Kaitlin Tuinstra (), a current clinical psychology doctoral student at the Michigan School of Psychology is studying the effects of family functioning on medication adherence in pediatric cancer patients. Please contact her if you are a “parents of children (age 8-17) who have been diagnosed with any form of pediatric cancer and are actively undergoing treatment or disease maintenance” if you would consider completing “a ~20 minute online survey to share their experience of family functioning, condition management, and medication adherence. This study has been approved by the Michigan School of Psychology Institutional Review Board (study #210701).”