Assorted News from the Last Week: This year's Grand Challenge includes a focus on pediatric solid tumors!  One of the nine announced challenges seeks to identify new therapies that target drivers of solid tumors in children, to improve survival and reduce the lifelong side effects caused by existing treatments.  Read about all nine challenges. Summary of the current state of the field of focused ultrasound for DIPG/DMG, including preclinical, technical, and clinical summaries in addition to recommended next steps for continued advancement of the game changing technology of Focused Ultrasound. People with a third copy of chromosome 21, known as [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: In March last year, the CCDI Molecular Characterization Initiative (MCI) launched. Since then, it has opened enrollment to children, adolescents, and young adults newly diagnosed with central nervous system tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and rare tumors—with plans to expand. Results have been returned to more than 750 participants. Prediction models for kidney failure in long-term survivors of childhood cancer Researchers have developed a new drug delivery approach that uses nanoparticles to enable more effective and targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs to treat brain tumors in children National Cancer Institute (NCI) is launching a first-of-its-kind, [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: National Cancer Institute (NCI) is launching a first-of-its-kind, public-private partnership to bring clinical and patient navigation support to families facing childhood cancer. About 20% of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience refractory disease or relapse, despite receiving intensive therapy. Leukemia stem cells (LSC) have the ability to evade chemotherapy and propagate the disease leading to chemoresistance and relapse. Therefore, treatment options that are able to eliminate LSCs are likely to be more effective in prolonging disease- free survival. The Government Accountability Office released early results of the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Investigators have found that socioeconomic deprivation, the presence of modifiable chronic health conditions, and frailty may all independently be associated with increased rates of late mortality among pediatric cancer survivors, according to a new study published by Ehrhardt et al in JAMA Network Open. The findings demonstrated that treating chronic health conditions alone may be inadequate to improve survivors’ life spans without policies to improve local environments. A team of almost 30 experts has compiled the first-ever guidelines on monitoring children for heart damage during cancer treatment. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Microchip disruption due to the pandemic is trickling down to impact access to hearing aids. Pediatric cancer survivors appeared at increased risk for late mortality associated with modifiable chronic health conditions, according to study results published in JAMA Network Open. Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma protocols should include more detailed imaging guidelines. Access matters: lack of resources is associated with increased mortality in childhood cancer survivors. Upcoming Webinars, Online Opportunities, and Meetings: We are pleased to invite CAC2 members, associate members, student members, and supporting organizations to our February CAC2 All-Member webinar:  Pediatric Cancer Advocacy In Your [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: National Cancer Institute (NCI) is launching the Childhood Cancer – Data Integration for Research, Education, Care, and Clinical Trials (CC-DIRECT) to support children and Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) with cancer throughout their cancer journey; provide patient navigation support to families seeking information and optimal care; facilitate research participation; and establish a portable, shareable, standardized cancer health record. This means families facing childhood cancer can reach out for support and get connected to excellent care and the opportunity to participate in research through clinical trials and data sharing initiatives. There are limited therapies available [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Reporting by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, in partnership with STAT, reveals that at least a dozen brands of asparaginase for treatment of ALL have been proven to be poor quality.  Ten of them are still on the market. In some cases brands fell well below the standard needed to treat cancer. Many have also been found to contain contaminants such as bacteria that could be harmful to patients. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical practice guidelines for adolescent and young adult oncology have been updated to include Pedmark, a sodium thiosulfate injection, [...] Read more