Pediatric cancer and its Recurrence

            Many would argue that pediatric cancer, cancer in children specifically those aged 1 to 14, is arguable one of the worse victimizers of children out there.  It results in an 80 percent survival rate over 5 years.  Unfortunately even those who survive are at an increased risk for a secondary cancer to develop in the skin, thyroids, or breasts.   By age 45 almost thirty percent of childhood cancer victims have been re-diagnosed.  A much higher rate than someone who didn’t previously have cancer.   Noticing this increased risk researchers set to find out the cause.   They took a look at about 3007 survivors of childhood cancer and analyze their DNA specifically 156 genes that have been previously linking to cancer.  It was found that 11.5 percent of the survivors had a mutation in one of these genes. The researchers then looked specifically at a subset of about 60 genes which carried a higher risk factor than the others, 6 percent of those looked at had a mutation in this subset of genes.  Radiation therapy is also increases the risk factor for secondary cancer development.  Further dividing up the childhood victims by this factor showed that 17% of individuals who did not have radiation therapy, had a mutation in the subset of 60 genes, and a higher risk for secondary cancer. Individuals who possessed both a mutation in one of the 60 genes and previous radiation treatment had a higher risk for specific kinds of second cancers which included; breast, thyroid or sarcomas,  and tumors in connective tissues.  The team concluded that individuals who had cancer as a child, did not receive radiation therapy, and then became diagnosed with a secondary cancer receive genetic counseling.

Original article here

for the American Cancer Societies page on pediatric cencer here 

Genetics May Help Guide Kids' Cancer Treatment

This article talks about how there are other options out there for children in need of cancer treatment. The approach they took was finding a personalized way of figuring out what is unique about the children's cancer and trying to attack it with drugs. There has been great strides to treating children's cancer from the 1960's until now but it still might not be enough. For example, Leukemia and certain tumors in the nervous system are not yet resolved as they continue to fight all the drugs thrown at them. The recurrence of a child's cancer are very difficult to overcome and the odds of fixing the issue are very low. 

Childhood Cancer is a growing issue in need of attention as doctors still do not have solutions to many major problems.  Dr. John Maris mentioned that the biggest obstacle in the way is that newer drugs may not be safe enough for children as well as having minimal effects on the kids.

A test was done at Mott Children's hospital consisting of 91 kids in which they analyzed each child's genome. 46 percent of the kids had a genetic finding in which they were placed on drugs intended to fight cancer. Only 9 children had partial or complete recoveries which drives the point home on children's medicine. The many drugs out there are not suited or designed for children. A new system must be developed with safer and more efficient drugs that the kids are more likely to respond to.

http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201509/MottCancerRsch

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/09/01/genetics-may-help-guide-kids-cancer-treatment?page=2

Genetic Sequencing Could Potentially Save Children's Lives

    This month an exciting breakthrough was made in a treatment for pediatric cancer! The University of Michigan's Center for Translational Pathology is using a practice called precision oncology along with genetic sequencing to tailor diagnoses and discover new drug treatments. These new treatments will help patients who are no longer benefiting from today’s standard treatments. A study that has been on going since 2012 began to use a new study called Next-Generation DNA Sequencing to identify the source of the cancer and the best way to treat it. Although the study faces some challenges such as decreasing the time it takes to begin treatment, increasing drug trials and the being able to produce more drugs safe for young children.

 This treatment gives great hope to saving more lives. I think this news is very hopeful and exciting however there is more work to be done. With more trials and funding I think this treatment can go far and hopefully help more children fight cancer! For the full article visit here!

Genetic Variation: A better indication for Cancer?

Cancer in any case, pediatric or adult, is devastating. Through long treatments and the question of reoccurring battles, those suffering and their loved ones are searching for answers on how to better indicate who will be more likely to battle the disease multiple times. A new study suggests that instead of looking for mutations in the DNA of an individual, the variation in the person's genetics should be studied. 

Newly conducted research in Sweden suggests that scientists should begin to look differently at pediatric cancer patient's DNA. It is evident that there is more genetic variation in cancer cells then healthy cells, allowing there to be a greater chance for mistakes in cell division. Researchers state that studying small variations in the DNA create a better picture of what cells will be problematic when the cells divide in the future. 

I believe this is a very interesting article. I found it most alarming that genetic variation is linked to how aggressive the cancer will act in the patient's body. Although this research only focused on common kidney cancer in children, I believe the same will be true for other cancers. The researchers are starting a new study on a larger population in Europe to determine if small variations can predict which treatments are better.  I am very eager to see the new study the team is conducting in Europe.