Articles related to Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

In a recent phase 3 trial, a low-dose chemotherapy regimen demonstrated noninferior efficacy to standard-dose regimens in pediatric AML patients, while significantly reducing non-hematologic toxicities, an important consideration in pediatric oncology.

Bridging the Gap: Twinning Programs Improve Pediatric Cancer Survival Rates Across Borders In a world where a few miles can determine the fate of a child with cancer, twinning programs are making a significant difference. These initiatives, which pair hospitals across borders, are helping to bridge the survival gap in pediatric acute leukemia between high-income and lower-income countries. Key Points: “There’s no pediatric centers in many of the mountain west states. If your kid gets cancer in Wyoming, you gotta go to Utah or Colorado or Mayo in Minnesota. But here, there’s really nice evidence that providing the right protocols, training, staff, and more, we could do this in more places and improve outcomes without developing a new drug.” Gwen Nichols, chief medical officer of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

The first version of the test, launched in November 2022, assesses chromosomal copy number changes in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and the aqueous humor of the eye to aid in the clinical diagnosis of patients with solid tumors, brain tumors, and retinoblastoma, respectively. The next version of the clinical assay, which will be available in about six months, will detect mutations and gene fusions.

The approval for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 2 years and older with previously untreated high-risk classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was based on the AHOD1331 phase 3 study, which examined the effects of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris, Seagen) in combination with the dose-intensive chemotherapy regimen AVE-PC (doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide). Results showed that patients who received the AVE-PC combination had better event-free survival than those who received ABVE-PC (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone and cyclophosphamide). Patients experienced a 59% decrease in their risk of death, second cancer, or disease progression.

The FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) unanimously decided on October 28 that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the pediatric oncology drug 131-I-omburtamab improves overall survival. A radiolabeled antibody, 131-I-omburtamab was created to treat central nervous system/leptomeningeal (CNS/LM) metastases in pediatric patients with neuroblastoma.

Perelman School of Medicine’s David Teachey, MD, reviews outcomes and implications from two recent Children’s Oncology Group trials and describes current research with daratumumab and CAR T-cell therapy.