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Assorted News from the Last Week: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) published its first ever set of treatment recommendations pertaining to neuroblastoma. Replacing brentuximab vedotin with nivolumab in first-line treatment combined with the chemotherapy regimen AVD improved progression-free survival in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Study results confirm that RNA sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq) workflow for clinical diagnosis of molecular subtypes in pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is a feasible method. A new rapid, cost-effective, and accurate ATRT subgrouping assay applicable for clinical use is presented. CAC2 Member ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation helps local 9-year-old [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Hispanic population appears underrepresented in pediatric cancer trials. Liquid biopsies to monitor therapy success and to predict the recurrence of the tumor in time to take medical countermeasures are being used for the first time in neuroblastoma patients through the MONALISA project. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public reminder to healthcare providers that PEDMARK (sodium thiosulfate injection) by CAC2 Supporting Organization Fennec Pharmaceuticals is not substitutable with other sodium thiosulfate products as explicitly directed in its prescribing label. World Cancer Day Trends:  The number of new cancer cases globally [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: A year after an investigation revealed widespread use of a substandard version of asparaginase, the World Health Organization and national drug regulators around the world have come under fire for failing to protect children from the dangerous chemotherapy. The drug tovorafenib may halt the growth of or shrink some childhood brain tumors, according to a clinical trial published in Nature Medicine. Bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy improved responses in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory, high-risk neuroblastoma. Over 3% of all cancer patients in India are under aged 15 and 4.6% under 20. Childhood cancer has long-term [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: The Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2) takes great pride in introducing its groundbreaking CAC2 Survivorship Toolkit. Training that increases self-confidence, reduces personal limitations, and decreases perceived barriers to fertility preservation (FP) care among oncology nurses can improve their ability to counsel patients about fertility preservation. Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have published an in-depth study into how the immune system’s T cells target pediatric brain tumors. Their research suggests that a small number of pediatric brain tumor patients already have cancer-fighting T cells within their tumors. High-deductible health plans erect ‘barriers’ [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: The Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2) takes great pride in introducing its groundbreaking CAC2 Survivorship Toolkit. Scientists found that two common biomarkers could predict cardiomyopathy that is otherwise undetected by conventional screenings in childhood cancer survivors. Michael Strahan's 19-year-old daughter Isabella is battling a malignant brain tumor known as medulloblastoma, the "Good Morning America" co-anchor and his daughter shared Thursday. Cancer specialists remain baffled about the cause(s) of an alarming increase in cancer among younger adults. (gated) The use of low-dose carvedilol did not significantly improve certain cardiac measures of heart failure risk in [...] Read more

Welcome to 2024 and the 201st edition of the CAC2 Childhood Cancer Community News Digest! Assorted News from the Last Week: The FDA granted a Fast Track Designation to the development program of SONALA-001 in combination with the INSIGHTEC Exablate 4000 Type-2 Device for the treatment of patients with DIPG. Children who have survived cancer have twice the odds of developing prediabetes (a precursor to full-blown diabetes) compared to kids without any history of cancer. A brother's promise: I pledge to extend my advocacy beyond borders, raising awareness, mobilizing resources, and championing research on a global scale. Together, let us [...] Read more

For many, the holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and reflection. However, families dealing with the harsh reality of pediatric cancers face exceptional challenges during this time. Instead of partaking in joyous traditions, they find themselves navigating a cancer diagnosis while seeking support and optimal treatment options or, worse, grieving a child lost to the disease.   At CAC2, we are proud of our collaborative network of 500+ members who hail from 41 states and nine countries. We are all committed to ending childhood cancer and, thus, ensuring that every child has a future filled with joyous holidays [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: CAC2 Members Nicole Scobie (Zoe4Life) and Nick Bird (Solving Kids' Cancer-UK) contributed to this Journal of Clinical Oncology commentary calling for a new regulatory approach for developing CAR-T therapies for pediatric cancer patients. CAC2 Members, Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation (AWOCCF) are pleased to announce their first collaborative initiative to fund a research project exploring the role of noninvasive focused ultrasound in treating high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma. BrainChild Bio, a newly-launched spinout of Seattle Children’s Hospital focused on childhood central nervous system cancers launches and rather than starting with regulatory [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Dr. Andy Kolb of CAC2 Member Leukemia & Lymphoma Society explains why a well-meaning FDA policy is a threat to pediatric cancer treatment. Pediatric cancer survivors treated with abdominopelvic region radiotherapy (ART) have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. CAR-T therapy was first approved in November 2017 for life-threatening blood cancers. But recently, the F.D.A. said, it had received 19 reports of new blood cancers in patients who received the treatment. ASCO issues clinical guidance for alternative treatments during oncology drug shortages Scientists [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: World Health Organization (WHO) Foundation report on global childhood cancer A collaboration of researchers has published successful results from a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of BRAF mutated low-grade paediatric gliomas. Treatment for pediatric leukemia involves intensive chemotherapy, which has severe side effects due to its non-specific mode of action. A team has now discovered a site in the DNA of cancer cells that is essential for leukemia cells to survive. Cancer cells in which the gene encoded at this site was modified experimentally died off. The gene locus thus constitutes a [...] Read more