CAC2 Childhood Cancer Community News Digest (March 25-31)

Assorted News from the Last Week:

Cancer is far more likely to be caused by “tumor-suppressor” genes than by one gene run amok.  Interestingly, last week Nature reported that researchers from St. Jude had stumbled on a new way of treating cancers caused by malfunctioning tumor-suppressor genes.  Their work focuses on a rare and aggressive childhood cancer called rhabdoid tumors and is based on restoring the broken tumor suppressor system, reverting malignant cells into ordinary ones.

Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), according to results from a Danish population-based cohort study.

CAC2 Member Nurix Therapeutics is part of a team of international oncology experts selected as Cancer Grand Challenges Awardees to address pediatric cancers using targeted protein degradation.

The FDA has granted rare pediatric disease designation (RPDD) to the investigational agent LSTA1 (CEND-1) for the potential treatment of pediatric or adult patients with osteosarcoma, according to an announcement from Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.

According to a study by the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), a key genetic variant that contributes toward the increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children has been detected. Compared with non-Hispanic White children, the disease is about 30% to 40% more likely to affect children of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Can a multimodal survivorship lifestyle program with counseling interventions physical activity, nutrition, and psychooncology improve the health behaviors and psychosocial situation in children, adolescents, and younger adults (CAYAs) who are cancer survivors?  A randomized clinical trial including 359 CAYAs with a high need for intervention did not show a significant difference between the cohorts who received intervention and the controls. However, both groups reported reduced needs, improved quality of life, reduced fatigue, and high satisfaction with the program.

Upcoming Webinars, Online Opportunities, and Meetings:

Join Ryan’s Case for Smiles (RCFS) and Flyers Charities for JustSibs Live, a unique opportunity for teenage siblings of children with cancer on April 13, 2024, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19148.  For information and to register.

Healing Hearts was created by grieving parents who needed a haven of love and comfort along with the hope of healing. Together, we support each other in creating a life worth living, for and with our children. Healing Hearts is for Osteosarcoma Bereaved families only and meets once a month on Wednesdays from 7- 8PM ET on April 24.  For information and to register.

Join BJ Miller, Mettle Health founder, palliative care and hospice physician and author, and Allison J. Applebaum, clinical psychologist and author for an interactive discussion on all things caregiving on April from 1:00 to 9:00 ET.  For information and to register.

The 21st International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO 2024) from June 29 – July 2, 2024, and the Annual Meeting of the Brain Tumor Group of SIOP Europe (SIOPE-BTG) from June 28-29, 2024, which will take place in Philadelphia, PA.  For information and to register.

56th Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP 2024), which will take place in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | October 17-20, 2024. Registration is open and anyone who registers before July 17, 2024 can take advantage of the discounted rates.

Take Action:

 

The US House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee recently held a hearing on H.R. 4758/S. 2372 Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (AKACA). Reach out to Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee and urge them to cosponsor the bill. If you have any questions, please contact CAC2 Member Matt Marks, Director of Federal Affairs with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, at .

CAC2 Member Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation sponsored a Congressional Town Hall about the Data for Pediatric Brain Cancer Act (H.R. 6288), introduced recently in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA). If you missed any part of the town hall or would like to spread the word about the Data for Pediatric Brain Cancer Act, the recording of it is available here, where you’ll also find a copy of the legislation overview. If you have any questions, please contact CAC2 Member Mike Henry, Director of Advocacy with Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, at .

The US House passed the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, which will reauthorize federal funding for the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First).  The original law has supported lifesaving pediatric research of treatments and cures for childhood cancer over the past nine years.  Contact your Senator and ask for their support of Senate version of Gabriella Miller 2.0 (S. 1624). Click here to check if your Senator is already a cosponsor.  Find your Senators here.

You are invited to participate in a study titled “Power of Human Connections” to improve mental health support using a peer-to-peer support mobile application for patient caregivers of young children with cancer. If you are the primary caregiver for a child between 0 to 14 years of age currently undergoing treatment for cancer; have access to a smartphone capable of running iOS or Android software; are comfortable using applications, technology, and digital devices, and are willing to answer the study questionnaires, have friends and family who are comfortable using applications, technology, and digital devices, and are willing to interact with technology on a smartphone, have the ability to read and understand English fluently, and have the ability to read and consent to the study and study procedures please access the informed consent and link to get started HERE.

The 2024 Evan Lindberg & Erik Ludwinski College Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors who are survivors of a high-risk cancer or in treatment for a high-risk malignancy.  Students must be accepted into a 4-year undergraduate institution and demonstrate a need for financial assistance.  For information and to apply.

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