Ian F. Pollack – continued
to identify potential new targets for specifi c subsets of
sarcomas and these fi ndings will revolutionize the way we
In addition, studies have shown that the amount of tumor
diagnose and treat this heterogeneous group of tumors.
removal infl uences the survival rate for children with
The Children’s Oncology Group, the largest national
medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and high and low-risk
cooperative group for childhood cancer, is so vitally
gliomas, while for other types of CNS, the amount of tumor
important to cancer research. Funds are essential to
removed makes less difference in outcome. This has shown
achieve the group’s goals and to save the lives of children
surgeons that extensive resection is an appropriate goal in
with cancers. We must all work collaboratively to spread
certain tumor types.
the message about the impact research has on fi nding
cures for cancer.
After completing genetic testing on the tumors, we have
identifi ed biological markers associated with outcome and
treatment response for a number of tumor types, particularly
infant brain tumors and medulloblastomas. Detection of
such genetic abnormalities offers the potential for being able Amar Gajjar, M.D.
to better tailor treatment for the individual infant or child.
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
All of this research would not be possible without funding. It
is so important to support CureSearch and the tremendous
I have been dedicated to neuro oncology research for the
efforts of all researchers in the Children’s Oncology Group.
past 20 years. My research is focused on fi nding novel and
They provide essential support that allows the committee to
less toxic ways to treat brain tumors. Research is critical
speed the pace of research for children with tumors of the
to making advances in our understanding of the biology of
central nervous system. Although improvements have been
brain tumors. With this knowledge, we can develop newer
made in the prognosis of certain tumor types, others remain
therapies that will hopefully increase the cure rate for children
resistant, and increased funding and focus is needed to
with brain tumors and cure them with much less acute side
make meaningful improvements in prognosis.
effects and late consequences of therapy.
The cure rates for children diagnosed with brain tumors
have varied. In certain types of brain
tumors, we are currently curing more
Alberto Pappo, M.D. than 80% of the children, but we
have not been able to improve the
Texas Children’s Cancer Center cure rate for other tumors despite
signifi cant research dedicated to
My strong interest in raising awareness about rare cancers these tumors. Our future research
in children to the pediatric oncology community has led to efforts will focus on fi nding novel
my research initiatives with the Children’s Oncology Group. treatment strategies for these
I have been studying sarcomas for the past 15 years and tumors. It is certainly our hope that
rare tumors for about seven years. we will have an impact on the cure
I was the head of the group’s rare rates for these diseases.
tumor initiative from 2002 - 2008,
and I am currently summarizing
Biomedical research is an expensive enterprise. We have
our accomplishments as well as
signifi cantly more tools today to investigate pediatric cancer
the obstacles that we encountered
than at any other time known to man. Unfortunately, the
during this period of time. I am
technology is expensive and often the results of biomedical
also involved in the development of
research do not result in tangible fi nancial return. That is why
new therapies for sarcomas using
it is imperative that there be a funding stream for clinical,
a monoclonal antibody against
translational and basic research. Fortunately, pediatric
IGF1R.
cancer constitutes a small proportion of patients in the
broad landscape of oncology, but this also has implications
Rare tumors account for about 9% of all pediatric cancers
for NIH funding. The majority of peer reviewed NIH funding
and very little has been accomplished within the setting of
is dedicated to adult malignancies, therefore, it is imperative
a cooperative group. These types of tumors offer unique
that fundraising remain an important mechanism to fund
opportunities to study novel mechanisms of disease and to
research focused on pediatric cancer.
identify new therapeutic pathways.
CureSearch is the only national organization that is
Soft tissue sarcomas account for about 7% of all childhood
dedicated to funding childhood cancer research across
cancers and little progress has been made in the treatment
North America. Its fundraising activities have facilitated the
of disseminated disease in the last 30 years. The use of
Children’s Oncology Group to augment funding from the NCI
advanced genomic techniques have fi nally allowed us
and support clinical care and research that otherwise would
not be possible.
www.CureSearch.org
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