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.

Reduced Vincristine/Dexamethasone Dosing Schedule Shows Impressive Outcomes, Improved QoL in Pediatric B-ALL

February 19th 2021

A reduced frequency of maintenance vincristine and dexamethasone led to a 5-year overall survival rate of 98.6% and improved quality of life in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed, standard-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Dr. Nichols on the Prognosis of Patients With VHL Disease

February 17th 2021

Kim E. Nichols, MD, discusses the prognosis of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Roswell Park Is First Site in Region Named a Resource for Patients With Rare Genetic Disease

February 17th 2021

Those diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau disease have a resource for that complete and coordinated care in Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, which was recently named a VHL Clinical Care Center by the VHL Alliance.

VHL Disease: Monitoring Is Imperative, But Research Efforts Are Gaining Ground

February 16th 2021

VHL disease is defined as a rare, inherited disorder that causes tumors and cysts to grow in specific areas of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, eyes, inner ear, adrenal glands, pancreas, kidney, and reproductive tract.

Dr. Wang on the Potential Utility of Ruxolitinib in Pediatric Patients With cGVHD

February 10th 2021

YunZu Michele Wang, MD, discusses the potential utility of ruxolitinib in children and young adult patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Beti-Cel Results in Impressive Activity in Pediatric Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia

February 10th 2021

February 10, 2021 - Treatment with the investigative gene cell therapy betibeglogene autotemcel led to durable transfusion independence in 87% of pediatric patients less than 18 years of age with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia with a median average hemoglobin of 11.3 g/dL.

Surge of New Drugs Fuels Optimism in Pediatric Oncology

February 4th 2021

The landscape for pediatric oncology drugs expanded dramatically last year, with 8 new drugs or indications specifically approved for children compared with just 47 for treatment and supportive care products from the early 1950s through 2019.

Pediatric Leukemia Pioneer Emil J. Freireich Dies at 93

February 2nd 2021

February 2, 2021 - Emil J. Freireich, MD, DSc, a founding father of modern clinical cancer research and the 2015 Giants of Cancer Care award winner for Lymphoid Neoplasms, has died at age 93.

Pembrolizumab Approaches EU Approval for Expanded Indication in Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

February 1st 2021

February 1, 2020 - The European Medicines Agency’s Committee of Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended a label expansion for pembrolizumab for use as a single agent in adult and pediatric patients aged 3 years and older with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma for whom autologous stem cell transplant has failed or following at least 2 previous therapies when ASCT is not an option.

Dr. Murphy on the Utility of Pazopanib Plus SBRT in Pediatric Sarcoma

January 29th 2021

Erin Murphy, MD, discusses the utility of pazopanib plus stereotactic body radiation therapy in pediatric sarcoma.

Dr. Howard Sharp on the Importance of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Pediatric Clinical Trials

January 29th 2021

Katianne M. Howard Sharp, PhD, discusses the importance of racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials for pediatric patients with cancer.

Oncology Community Mourns Joseph V. Simone, MD

January 23rd 2021

Joseph V. Simone, MD, a pioneering clinical investigator and institutional leader in pediatric oncology who was recognized with a 2017 Giants of Cancer Care® award, died January 21 at the age of 85.

Allogeneic SCT Benefits Children and Adolescents With Relapsed Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

December 23rd 2020

December 23, 2020 — Findings from the International, Prospective ALCL-Relapse trial showed that allogeneic SCT after reinduction chemotherapy can lead to survival improvements in children and adolescents with high-risk relapsed or refractory anaplastic large cell lymphoma, provide more insight into how to treat this population.

Pelvic, Abdominal Radiation in Pediatric Patients May Lead to Impaired Metabolic Health as Adults

December 3rd 2020

The use of abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy in pediatric patients with cancer could lead to long-term negative impact on cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Pediatric Osteosarcoma Harbors a High Incidence of Pathogenic TP53 Variants

October 19th 2020

TP53 was found to be the only gene with a germline de novo pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma.

FDA Grants Nivatrotamab Orphan Drug Status for Pediatric Neuroblastoma

October 8th 2020

The FDA has granted an orphan drug designation and rare pediatric disease designation to the bispecific antibody nivatrotamab for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma.

Experts Call for Increased Awareness of Existing Racial Disparities in RCC, Other Malignancies

September 24th 2020

Despite the numerous reports detailing racial differences in cancer outcomes and care over the years, the reasons underlying these disparities continue to be under deep exploration.

FDA Panel Supports Remestemcel-L for Pediatric Steroid-Refractory Acute GVHD

August 13th 2020

The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 8 to 2 in favor of approving remestemcel-L for the treatment of children with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.

Stronger Racial and Ethnic Minority Presence Is Needed in Clinical Cancer Trials

August 12th 2020

Numerous analyses conducted over the past few years have underscored a serious issue in clinical cancer trials that needs to be addressed: a lack of racial and ethnic diversity among participants.

FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for Pedmark for Prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity in Solid Tumors

August 11th 2020

The FDA has issued a complete response letter to Fennec Pharmaceuticals regarding its new drug application for a unique formulation of sodium thiosulfate (Pedmark) for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in patients from 1 month to less than 18 years of age with localized, nonmetastatic, solid tumors.