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Assorted news from the last week: Twenty percent of children treated with drugs called anthracyclines go on to suffer heart failure later in life.  Dr. Greg Aune explores why. Research to develop a new treatment and bring a new drug to market is extremely expensive, and conventional methods for obtaining funding aren’t adequate. New funding models can help disease-focused nonprofit research foundations play a central role in raising capital and mobilizing an ecosystem focused on controlling and curing a disease. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed S.Res.742 – A Senate Resolution designating September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  Senators Manchin […]

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Assorted news from the last week: In a Swedish study of how families in pediatric oncology experienced illness‐related information and communication with professionals and within the family, eighty‐six percent of the parents and 71% of the siblings reported that they had not received enough or any information about how the cancer and its treatment could affect the child's psychological health. EMA has published the final version of ‘Preparedness of medicines’ clinical trials in paediatrics - recommendations by the Enpr-EMA working group on trial preparedness.'  Key takeaways:  The definition of “trial preparedness” has been extended and a new term “trial feasibility” has [...] Read more

Assorted news from the last week: A study by a French research team found “that treatment with growth hormones is not associated with an increased risk of second tumors” for children who survived cancer and later received treatment for growth hormone deficiency. Brigitte Widemann, chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch for the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute, started conducting clinical trials for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in 2001, and results from the most recent trial holds promise to shrink the tumors or stop their growth. FDA grants rare pediatric disease designation to a second CAR (chimeric [...] Read more

Assorted news from the last week: Camp Okizu at Berry Creek, a camp for pediatric cancer patients and their families, sustained significant damage in California's Bear Fire. Early results of a clinical trial show that for children and adults with advanced soft tissue sarcoma, adding the targeted drug pazopanib (Votrient) to chemotherapy and radiation treatment is safe and increases the chances that most of the tumor will be dead before surgery. Study in Pediatric Blood Cancer concludes that physicians can foster trust through patient-centered communication and provision of high-quality information about a child’s cancer. Baltimore Ravens honor pediatric cancer patients. [...] Read more

Assorted news from the last week: National Cancer Institute released its Annual Plan and Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2022.  This plan focuses on our enduring top priority — accelerating cancer research — and features four special scientific topics: cancer drug resistance, molecular diagnostics for cancer treatment, obesity and cancer, and cancer survivorship. Major League Soccer and Continental Tire teamed to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer with the 7th year of the Kick Childhood Cancer campaign. Major League Baseball devoted Saturday, September 5 to childhood cancer activities around the league.  Players wore gold ribbon decals and wristbands, and teams [...] Read more

Guidances Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Developing Drugs and Biological Products for Treatment Pediatric Study Plans: Content of and Process for Submitting Initial Pediatric Study Plans and Amended Initial Study Plans Cancer Clinical Trial Eligibility Criteria: Minimum Age Considerations for Inclusion of Pediatric Patients    Meetings 15 Sep: Pediatric Advisory Committee Will discuss pediatric-focused safety reviews for medications related to acute dystonia associated with  ADHD, acute hyperkinetic movement disorder associated with combined use of ADHD stimulants and  antipsychotics 22-23 Oct: Pediatric Dose Selection Public Workshop ($50) Will discuss current methods and future approaches, and how to address gaps in pediatric dose selection  that […]

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Assorted news from the last week: Cancer and its treatment may accelerate the aging process in young patients Research has identified a small molecule compound that may make some medulloblastoma patients respond better to treatment Childhood Cancer virtual Action Day planned for September 9 Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer Friday at age 43, inspired many in roles as King T'Challa, Jackie Robinson and James Brown, but also used his prominence to lift up children with cancer. CAC2 salutes Members Solving Kids’ Cancer, Momcology, Ty Louis Campbell Foundation, and the Max Cure Foundation who worked collaboratively with Friends of Karen [...] Read more

Assorted news from the last week: CAC2 urges members to support efforts to help children’s hospitals in Beirut in the aftermath of the deadly August 4 explosion.  You can read more about the explosions effect on pediatric cancer patients from the New York Times American Association for Cancer Research will hold virtual Rally for Medical Research Event on September 17 Researchers to study chemo brain in children with ALL Childhood cancer survivors with severe hearing loss:  significantly increased risk for neurocognitive deficits  independent of what type of therapy they receive THON dance marathon goes virtual RACE for Children Act implemented this week

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Assorted news links from the last week: INCB, WHO and UNODC Statement on Access to Internationally Controlled Medicines during COVID-19 Pandemic FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for Pedmark  An important step forward for mitigating the risk of life-long hearing loss caused by cisplatin AML Survivors at risk for psychosocial impairment Another study from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Beirut blast disrupts cancer care for children NPR reports on the wide range of damage from the explosion in Beirut More news about DIPG:  Discoveries point to a new potential treatment approach For childhood cancer survivors, exercise intolerance predicts a range of other health [...] Read more

Assorted news links from the last week: Study Offers Insights on Health Problems among AYA Cancer Survivors Medical trial aims to identify those at risk of heart damage following cancer treatment Australian researchers taking a very broad look at the effect of cancer treatment on heart health. Racial Disparities in Pediatric Cancer Treatment: Black Children Less Likely to Receive Proton Radiotherapy, Forbes US FDA Grants Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) to Paxalisib for DIPG, a big win for the Creating Hope Act (which needs to be permanently reauthorized by the end of September) Risk-Stratified Therapy Reduces Late Morbidity, Mortality in Pediatric [...] Read more