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Assorted News from the Last Week: Parents of kids with cancer fear GOP budget cuts could slash Medicaid What I wish I had known: A pediatric oncologist's transition to survivorship care The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation to treatment with an investigational B7-H3 targeting autologous CAR-T cell therapy for pediatric patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Researchers trained and validated a deep learning model that can detect subtle changes across post-treatment brain scans and forecast pediatric glioma recurrence with up to 89 percent accuracy. Living in a persistent-poverty neighborhood was associated with a higher risk [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: CAC2 Individual Member Robert Dilley blogging about why sustained research funding is essential to progress. AACR issues calls to action to advocacy colleagues and supporters of NIH funding. NCI Annual Report to the Nation:  "Cancer death rates in children declined steadily over the study period; those for adolescents and young adults also declined until recently, when the decline slowed and stabilized." A new study suggests that early-life exposure to two widespread environmental pollutants -- small particle air pollution and outdoor artificial light at night -- could increase the risk of pediatric thyroid cancer. CT [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: A study explores the effects of identifying pediatric cancer survivors at risk for complications, developing targeted interventions, determining where and how to provide life-long risk-based care, and whether providing risk-based surveillance will mitigate the burden of morbidity and mortality among childhood cancer survivors. A proposed cancer survivorship model that involves interdisciplinary coordination and the use of digital tools has the potential to “move the outcomes needle.” Only half of adolescents and young adults with cancer get fertility counseling before treatment. Psychological empowerment interventions that are technology-based significantly improve the psychological well-being of parents of [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: A pan-Canadian team has developed a new way to quickly find personalized treatments for young cancer patients, by growing their tumors in chicken eggs and analyzing their proteins. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for NEO100 (perillyl alcohol) in the treatment of pediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (aged 13-39 years) represent a growing segment of the cancer population who face distinct challenges in receiving care, leading to adverse treatment experiences and stagnant survival outcomes. Preventable pediatric cancer mortality surges in areas of [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: A man who battled childhood cancer has received the first known transplant of sperm-producing stem cells, in a study aimed at restoring the fertility of cancer's youngest survivors. Projections suggest that 45.6% of childhood cancer survivors would die before reaching 65 years of age, compared to 15.0% of the general population. Children constitute 7.2% of annual cancer cases in Nigeria. U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act, which would give children with cancer access to combination therapy trials. The bill will also incentivize pharmaceutical companies [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Data shows that childhood cancer survivors were much more likely to develop an aging-associated health condition before the age of 65, with earlier onset, compared with the general population, according to a modeling study. Nearly all cancer treatments for children pose some short- or long-term risk for development of cardiovascular disease and that pediatric patients with cancer may be especially vulnerable to cardiovascular disease because of young age at treatment and expected long life span afterward. Childhood cancer survivors were also at greater risk of developing melanoma. High costs among factors in Malaysia behind [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: CAC2 Member Blog from Stan Robbins--Awareness & Entertainment Opportunity: Audrey’s Children Childhood cancer survivors have a more than two-fold increased risk of developing melanoma during their lifetime, compared to the general population, as well as a two-fold increased risk of death associated with a melanoma diagnosis. Suicidal ideation significantly higher among childhood cancer survivors. Newborns with heart defects may face a higher risk of developing childhood cancer. New therapeutic approach shows promise for pediatric high-grade gliomas. New NCI Pediatric Preclinical In Vivo Testing Consortium (PIVOT) study data are in the CCDI Data Ecosystem. The [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: The Coalition Against Childhood Cancer announced plans to hold its 2025 Annual Summit, hosted by Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC and presented by Day One Biopharmaceuticals on June 15-17. A group of organizations, including CAC2 Supporting Organization Servier, announced a collaborative initiative, Access Cancer Treatment (ACT) for Children. The initiative is aligned with the WHO CureAll framework to address disparities in pediatric cancer care in LMICs. Cognitive-behavioral stress management relieves anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in parents of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients. President Trump highlights the increased diagnosis of childhood cancer [...] Read more

Assorted News from the Last Week: Thanks to all for a fantastic Action Day on February 28.  348 advocates from 40 states participated and shared their stories in 222 meetings, asking for congressional support for important legislation and funding for childhood cancer. Celebrating collaborative achievement: CAC2 Member Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation and Supporting Member The Brain Bodega are launching a pilot program that offers personalized academic support for childhood/teen cancer fighters, survivors, and siblings. The Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancers: A Review Study shows possible links between PFAS [...] Read more