CureSearch Annual Report 2 Dear CureSearch Supporters:


I am pleased to share with you the CureSearch for Children’s Cancer 2010 Annual Report. As you review the following pages, the research information and patient testimonials will demonstrate the successes of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) over the last 10 years. The highlighted events and activities will demonstrate how CureSearch continues to fundraise for the COG, the world’s leading children’s cancer research entity.


As we look forward to the next ten years, we know that medical advances are happening at a faster pace than ever, which we hope will lead to drastic increases in the pace and scope of medical research for children’s cancer. CureSearch will continue to be at the forefront of funding these discoveries. To do so will require greater resources than ever before.


Therefore, we are holding more fundraising events through our rapidly expanding CureSearch Walk, we have opened regional CureSearch offices throughout the nation so we can better serve our constituents and we have met with more than 100 COG partner hospitals to build on our shared mission.


As we continue to mold CureSearch into the model of a national voluntary health organization, I look forward to sharing our successes with you. Together, we are the means to an end of childhood cancer.


Sincerely,


John L. Lehr President and CEO CureSearch for Children’s Cancer


Dear Friends of CureSearch,


On behalf of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your important support of our mission of scientific discovery and compassionate care to advance the survival outcomes of infants, children, adolescents and young adults with cancer.


This has been an exceptional year. COG clinical trials have resulted in practice-changing standards of care for children with neuroblastoma, acute leukemia and medulloblastoma. An investigational drug, studied by the COG in neuroblastoma and produced under contract by the National Cancer Institute for our studies, has now been adopted by a commercial sponsor who will assume responsibility for production and eventual licensing so that this new drug can be made available to every child with this disease. COG has established a number of strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials of new drugs for several pediatric cancers. The expectation is that the results of these studies will lead to licensing approval of several new drugs for childhood cancer. I remind you that in the past 20 years, only 3 new drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pediatric cancer indications.


COG’s laboratory research efforts have identified a number of potential molecular targets in various pediatric cancers. This work has the real potential to translate into new targeted therapy approaches specific for cancers in children and young adults. As well, we continue our responsible investigations in survivorship


and outcomes to assess the impact of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of childhood cancer survivors, a burgeoning population which continues to expand.


Your support of the COG through CureSearch enables the robust information technology system and platforms required for a large multi-national and multi-center (over 200 pediatric cancer programs in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands) clinical trials network and infrastructure support at member institutions. Despite the significant funding provided by the National Cancer Institute which constitutes the foundation of our financial resources, the current economy and federal spending priorities significantly restrict the funding resources available. Your generosity clearly makes a difference. That difference has a face which we see every day and a name that calls for your continued generosity.


On behalf of those thousands of names and faces who serve as our inspiration and their families, thank you.


Sincerely,


Gregory H. Reaman, MD Professor of Pediatrics The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Division of Hematology/Oncology Children’s National Medical Center Chairman, Children’s Oncology Group


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