Immunogenomics to Create New Therapies for High-Risk Childhood Cancers
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
Curative chemotherapy for cancer was first realized in children. Survival rates for many of the common cancers in children improved dramatically through the last part of the 20th century. However, those cure rates have plateaued since the 1990s, and for some childhood cancers, we have seen little to no improvements.
Announcing the Stand Up To Cancer – St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Cancer Dream Team [VIDEO]
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
From a long list of innovative “big ideas,” the scientific reviewers representing both funding organizations had chosen the top four to submit detailed proposals. The experts agreed that any of these would be great investments, but for a grant of $14.5 million over four years, only one could be chosen.
The suspense ended with an enthusiastic round of applause when the winning Dream Team was announced at a reception tonight at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR). The evening’s emcee was actor Kyle MacLachlan, and speakers included Nobel Laureate Dr. Philip Sharp, St. Baldrick’s CEO Kathleen Ruddy, and 10-year-old cancer survivor Emma W. and her parents.
And the award goes to:
Meet Emily
In December 2011, Emily was diagnosed with a cancer of the bone, chondroblastic osteosarcoma, in her right tibia. Her “whatever needs to be done” attitude has helped her through the 18 rounds of chemotherapy and a lengthy surgery to remove the tumor along with seven inches of her right tibia. Emily will be in a wheelchair until at least March 2013, but she’s building stamina each day.
Scan Day: Anticipation, Hope, and The Thing I Fear The Most
- What do these scans signify for you?
Ty: Well. Simply put, it signifies how far I’ve come in this battle against the worst disease anyone could ever be diagnosed with. It signifies the freedom I will have – not having to limit my schedule around my scan times. The thing it signifies most is after this set of scans. I’ll have a whole year away from the hospital. And a whole year to live my life, and pursue the things I want and need to do.
New Discovery May Hold the Key to Destroying Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a devastating pediatric bone cancer for which survival rates have not improved in over 30 years. Despite advances in chemotherapy and surgery, 40% of osteosarcoma patients eventually succumb to the disease. However, a recent research study, funded in part by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, has identified a new gene called Sox2 that may hold the key to eradicating the tumor and preventing relapse of this aggressive type of childhood cancer.
Sox2 is a gene that is required to keep normal bone cells young and immature to encourage their growth. As a result, normal bone stem cells depend on Sox2 for survival. Osteosarcomas are also dependent on Sox2.
Immunotherapy: The Future of Childhood Cancer Treatment
Dr. Alex Huang, a St. Baldrick’s Scholar, is studying immunotherapy as a safer treatment option for children with osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Read how he’s using his research — and his bald head — to help kids with cancer.
Dr. Alex Huang with Team Rainbow.
On March 9, I had my head shaved at the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. (2012 Ambassador Austin also attended the head-shaving event.) This was my fourth year as a shavee℠ and member of my hospital’s team, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, where I am the Director of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program.
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