CAC2 Childhood Cancer Community News Digest (March 17-23)

March 24, 2025 Community News, Guest Blogs, News Digest

Assorted News from the Last Week:

Data shows that childhood cancer survivors were much more likely to develop an aging-associated health condition before the age of 65, with earlier onset, compared with the general population, according to a modeling study.

Nearly all cancer treatments for children pose some short- or long-term risk for development of cardiovascular disease and that pediatric patients with cancer may be especially vulnerable to cardiovascular disease because of young age at treatment and expected long life span afterward.

Childhood cancer survivors were also at greater risk of developing melanoma.

High costs among factors in Malaysia behind childhood cancer patients from rural areas defaulting treatments.

Researchers have developed a diagnostic platform that could classify brain tumors based on the body’s cancer-fighting immune response that harness the success of immunotherapies that revolutionized the treatment of childhood leukemias for childhood brain cancers.

Support through healthcare institutional policies are key factors in pediatric oncology nurses’ efforts to provide a healing care environment for patients and their families.

A rare joint effort launched by the Biden administration and embraced by the Trump White House brought two Palestinian children with cancer from Gaza to the U.S. for treatment this week, multiple sources tell NBC News.

Upcoming Webinars, Online Opportunities, and Meetings:

Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC) is teaming up with 88 Jersey Mike’s Subs locations across DFW in March to raise funds in the fight against pediatric cancer. As part of Jersey Mike’s 15th Annual Month of Giving, the campaign will culminate on Wednesday, March 26, with 100% of all sales donated to WOKC in support of DFW kids (and their families) battling cancer.  Click here for more information.

CAC2 will host a free public Webinar on April 17, 2025 noon-1:00 PM ET on The Role of AI from Diagnosis to Treatment for Childhood Cancer. Click here for more information and to register.

AUDREY’S CHILDREN is the true story of Dr. Audrey Evans, a pioneering pediatric oncologist who developed the revolutionary staging system for treating Neuroblastoma and who co-founded the Ronald McDonald House. In theaters nationwide – March 28th!  Click here for more information.

The Coalition Against Childhood Cancer will hold its 2025 Annual Summit, hosted by Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC and presented by Day One Biopharmaceuticals. This annual event reflects the CAC2 values and mission by providing top-notch educational programming, designing multiple opportunities for members to connect and engage, and showcasing the ongoing efforts of our members who are working for a future without childhood cancers.  June 15-17.  Register here: CAC2 Annual Summit Registration

Cheerful Hearts hosts online game time for children ages 6 through 14 years old every Sunday at 4:00 pm-4:30 EST. Click here for more information and to register.

Recent Recordings:

CAC2 member Mark Levine hosts a podcast called, “Help and Hope Happen Here” (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts). Access recent podcasts with CAC2 Members (and visit Help and Hope Happen Here for interviews with other CAC2 members and thought leaders from around the community):

  • Joe McDonough (CAC2 Member Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation) and others speak about Audrey’s Children.

Take Action:

The 2025 Evan Lindberg & Erik Ludwinski College Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors who are survivors of a high-risk cancer or in treatment for a high-risk malignancy.  Students must be accepted into a 4-year undergraduate institution and demonstrate a need for financial assistance.  For information and to apply.

Three childhood cancer-related bills have been introduced in the first three months of this year.  Read about them and encourage your Members of Congress to support them all.

CAC2 Innovation Council Recommendation: ARYA-2 Clinical Trial for Pediatric Liver Cancer

Overview of the Opportunity: This request concerns a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, evaluating ET140203 T Cells in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory Hepatoblastoma, Hepatocellular Neoplasm-Not Otherwise Specified, or Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The Requester: Nicole Nunez, Associate Director of Patient Engagement and Regulatory Affairs (PhD), Eureka Therapeutics, Inc.

The Type of Request: Information sharing about a clinical trial opportunity for children with liver cancer.  Sharing information about a trial does not imply that CAC2 is recommending or endorsing. Each patient should check with their medical professionals.

The Ask:  Inform CAC2 Members about the ARYA-2 clinical trial (NCT04634357) which is a multi-center, Phase 1/2 clinical trial currently in the dose escalation phase, evaluating ET140203 T Cells in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory Hepatoblastoma, Hepatocellular Neoplasm-Not Otherwise Specified, or Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Please share the clinical trial flyer and help connect the trial team with any entities that can help bring awareness about this trial. Since pediatric liver cancer is an ultra rare disease (less than 200 kids diagnosed every year in the US), the trial team is doing everything it can to let doctors, patients and patient community groups know that this trial is open and actively recruiting.

Supporting Documentation: The trial is currently open at Dana-Farber Boston Children’s Cancer Institute, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Autologous ET140203 T-cell therapy is designed to specifically target and destroy AFP/HLA-A2-positive liver cancer, while minimizing potential side effects traditionally associated with cancer treatment.

Eureka Therapeutics provides financial support for the patient and one caregiver to cover travel, food and accommodations during their participation in the trial.

Informational Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYAQL-yBVbzV4lv4xrKYEUQUmin7GR0R/view?usp=share_link

Patient friendly website at: www.eurekaconnectme.com

Corporate website is: www.eurekatherapeutics.com

For more information on the clinical trial, including details regarding eligibility criteria, please visit the clinicaltrials.gov website page: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04634357

 

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