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.

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.

FDA Grants Pedmark Priority Review for Prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity in Solid Tumors

August 7th 2020

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to a new drug application for a unique formulation of sodium thiosulfate for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in patients from 1 month to less than 18 years of age with localized, nonmetastatic, solid tumors.

FDA Approval Sought for Omburtamab in Pediatric Metastatic Neuroblastoma

August 6th 2020

The biologics license application for the investigational B7-H3–targeting monoclonal antibody omburtamab for use in pediatric patients with central nervous system/leptomeningeal metastases from neuroblastoma has been submitted to the FDA under the agency’s Rolling Review process.

FDA Sets Review Date for Remestemcel-L for Steroid-Refractory Pediatric Acute GVHD

July 21st 2020

The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee has scheduled a date to review data supporting the biologics license application for remestemcel-L as a treatment for children with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease.

St. Jude Launches Pediatric Global COVID-19 Observatory and Resource Center

June 28th 2020

Following the arrival of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital launched the first Global COVID-19 Observatory and Resource Center for Childhood Cancer.

FDA Grants Naxitamab Priority Review for Relapsed/Refractory High-Risk Neuroblastoma

June 3rd 2020

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to a biologics license application for the investigational, humanized monoclonal antibody naxitamab (Danyelza) for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.

Using a Multinational Pediatric Cancer Registry Helps to Improve PFS in High-Risk Patients

May 29th 2020

The use of real-time comprehensive profiling provides valuable diagnostic information and identifies potential therapeutic targets in adults with malignancies, but this process remains widely underutilized for pediatric patients and represents a significant unmet need.

FDA Approval Sought for Naxitamab in Neuroblastoma

April 4th 2020

A Biologics License Application has been filed with the FDA for naxitamab for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.

Higher Anthracycline Doses Linked to Breast Malignancy Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors

July 5th 2019

Higher doses of anthracyclines are associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women who survived childhood cancer, regardless of whether they have mutations that predispose them to cancer.

Dr. van Tilburg on Larotrectinib in TRK+ Pediatric Cancers

July 2nd 2019

Cornelis M. van Tilburg, MD, PhD, pediatric oncologist, Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg, discusses the activity of larotrectinib (Vitrakvi) in patients with TRK fusion–positive cancers who have brain metastases or primary central nervous system tumors.

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.