Pediatric Oncology | Specialty

The OncLive Pediatric Oncology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on various types of cancers in pediatric patients, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, brain cancers, sarcomas, and more. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on unmet needs, treatment advances, and ongoing research in childhood and adolescent and young adult cancers.

Larotrectinib Effective in TRK+ Pediatric Cancers and CNS Tumors

June 7th 2019

The efficacy of larotrectinib is supported in distinct patient populations with TRK fusion cancer—specifically pediatric patients and adult or pediatric patients with brain metastases or primary central nervous system tumors.

Dr. Sweetenham on Unanswered Questions With CAR T-Cell Therapy in Pediatric ALL

June 1st 2019

John Sweetenham, MD, associate director for clinical affairs, Harold G. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses unanswered questions with CAR T-cell therapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Entrectinib Achieves Strong Responses in Pediatric Cancers, Including CNS Tumors

May 16th 2019

Entrectinib induced objective responses in 100% of pediatric patients with tumors harboring NTRK1/2/3, ROS1, or ALK gene fusions or mutations.

Pediatric Precision Medicine Approach Proven Possible in Pediatric MATCH Trial

May 16th 2019

About a quarter of pediatric patients with cancer were able to be screened for targetable alterations in their tumor and directed to a treatment targeting that alteration of pathway in the screening protocol of the National Cancer Institute-Children’s Oncology Group Pediatric MATCH trial.

Research Propels Forward With CAR T-Cell Therapy in Pediatric ALL

April 28th 2019

Christine N. Duncan, MD, discusses the current components of CAR T-cell therapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Impact of Genetic Variant on Stroke Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated With Cranial Radiation Therapy

April 27th 2019

Yadav Sapkota, PhD, clinical research scientist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, discusses the relationship between a genetic variant and the risk of stroke in childhood cancer survivors treated with cranial radiation therapy.

Risk Factor Profile Determined for Development of Pediatric TA-TMA After HSCT

April 3rd 2019

The development of high-grade acute graft-versus-host disease following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation poses the highest risk for transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy in pediatric patients.

Childhood Cancer Survivors at Increased Risk for Skin Cancers

March 26th 2019

Childhood cancer survivors who had lived 5 or more years from their primary malignancy are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer compared with the general population.

Childhood Cancer Substantially Underdiagnosed Worldwide

March 21st 2019

Childhood cancer is significantly underdiagnosed—especially in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa—underscoring the need for stronger health systems and the expansion of universal health coverage, according to an analysis published in Lancet Oncology.

Dr. Pikman on Implications of a Matched Targeted Therapy Approach in Pediatric Leukemia

February 28th 2019

Yana Pikman, MD, a physician in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and instructor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, discusses the implications of a matched targeted therapy approach in pediatric leukemia.

Dasatinib Approved in EU for Pediatric Ph+ ALL

February 11th 2019

The European Commission has approved dasatinib in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of pediatric patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Study Confirms Long-Term Risk of Secondary Cancers in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors

February 7th 2019

The relative risk of developing a solid subsequent malignant neoplasm remained elevated in survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma, according to extended follow-up of more than 25 years from the Late Effects Study Group cohort.

FDA Approves Dasatinib for Pediatric Ph+ ALL

January 3rd 2019

The FDA has approved dasatinib tablets in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of pediatric patients ≥1 year of age with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Dr. Summers on Role of CAR T Cells in Pediatric Cancer

December 29th 2018

Corinne Summers, MD, pediatric oncologist, Seattle Children's Hospital, assistant member, Clinical Research Division, University of Washington Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses the role of CAR T cells in pediatric cancer.

Dr. Pikman on Matching Pediatric Patients With More Precise Leukemia Therapy

December 28th 2018

Yana Pikman, MD, a physician in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and instructor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, discusses a trial attempting to match pediatric patients with more precise therapy for acute leukemia.

FDA Approves Longer-Acting Calaspargase Pegol-mknl for ALL

December 21st 2018

The FDA has approved a longer-acting version of calaspargase pegol-mknl (Asparlas) as a component of a multiagent chemotherapy regimen for pediatric and young adult patients aged 1 month to 21 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Trial Aims to Match Pediatric Patients With More Precise Leukemia Therapy

December 20th 2018

Yana Pikman, MD, discusses the clinical implications of using an approach to match targeted therapy to pediatric patients with leukemia.

Dr. Grupp Discusses the Findings of the ELIANA Trial

December 17th 2018

Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD, director, Cancer Immunotherapy Program, director, Translational Research for the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, medical director, Stem Cell Laboratory, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the findings of the ELIANA trial.

EU Panel Backs Dasatinib for Pediatric Ph+ ALL

December 17th 2018

The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has granted a positive opinion to dasatinib in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of pediatric patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

FDA Approves Romiplostim for Pediatric ITP

December 15th 2018

The FDA has approved romiplostim for the treatment of pediatric patients aged ≥1 year with immune thrombocytopenia for at least 6 months who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, or splenectomy.