Center for Childhood Cancer Research

Transforming the Approach to Cancer Epigenomic Studies
Transforming the Approach to Cancer Epigenomic Studies 1024 764 Abbie Miller

Two new publications from the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Nationwide Children’s offer a new platform technology and proof of concept that illuminates the role of a known gene fusion driving rhabdomyosarcoma.  Synergy is an important part of scientific endeavors, and people, teams and organizations who can harness the energy of ideas and passion…

New Trial Aims to Boost Kids’ Immune Systems to Fight Neuroblastoma
New Trial Aims to Boost Kids’ Immune Systems to Fight Neuroblastoma 1024 558 Lauren Dembeck

A new cellular therapy approach could improve outcomes and ease the treatment burden for patients and families. Neuroblastoma is rare, with only 700 to 800 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year, but it is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Neuroblastoma typically occurs in children younger than 5 years, with…

CD38-CAR NK Cell Therapy Has Antitumor Potential for Treating CD38-Expressing Hematologic Malignancies
CD38-CAR NK Cell Therapy Has Antitumor Potential for Treating CD38-Expressing Hematologic Malignancies 1024 649 Jessica Nye, PhD

Investigators from Nationwide Children’s Hospital created fratricide-resistant and metabolically-enhanced chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) and T cells that have cytotoxic effects on many hematologic tumors. “One of the problems that we usually have with blood cancers is making effective therapies using immune cells, because the immune cells then recognize themselves as a threat…

1 Trillion Cells: Nationwide Children’s Reaches New Milestone for Universal-Donor NK Cell Studies
1 Trillion Cells: Nationwide Children’s Reaches New Milestone for Universal-Donor NK Cell Studies 1024 649 Abbie Miller

The Biologics Manufacturing Resource, Nationwide Children’s Cell and Tissue cGMP manufacturing facility, recently achieved a major milestone. The resource has now delivered more than 1 trillion universal donor natural killer (NK) cells to patients. These NK cells are being studied in clinical trials to learn if they can help children and adults with cancer. “This…

Oncolytic Viroimmunotherapy Improved by Enhanced Cytokine Transgene Expression
Oncolytic Viroimmunotherapy Improved by Enhanced Cytokine Transgene Expression 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck

Researchers were able to suppress in vivo tumor growth with an oncolytic virus by enhancing the production of the cytokine interleukin-12 in the tumors. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare, aggressive sarcomas that exhibit resistance to non-surgical treatment and have high rates of metastasis and relapse. The prognosis for MPNSTs is poor, with…

Donor-Derived NK Cells Safe and Efficacious in Relapsed and Refractory AML
Donor-Derived NK Cells Safe and Efficacious in Relapsed and Refractory AML 1024 649 Lauren Dembeck

Researchers have used their approach for growing large numbers of NK cells to allow repeated dosing for a more effective and less toxic treatment.   Outcomes for patients with relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) have not significantly improved over the last 30 years. For example, a recent study of patients treated with…

Proton Therapy – A New Era of Cancer Therapy for Children
Proton Therapy – A New Era of Cancer Therapy for Children 1024 683 Abbie Miller

Proton therapy offers benefits over traditional photon radiation therapy. Using proton therapy, doctors can give more specific, concentrated doses of radiation with less risk and damage to the surrounding tissue. Subscribe to Pediatrics Online Receive resources like this, tailored to your specialty, in your inbox every month. Subscribe Now Proton therapy is an advanced type…

Interactions Between Invading Tumor and Lung Cells Permit Metastatic Lung Colonization of Osteosarcoma
Interactions Between Invading Tumor and Lung Cells Permit Metastatic Lung Colonization of Osteosarcoma 150 150 Lauren Dembeck

Survival signals elicited by lung tissue interactions promote osteosarcoma metastasis and represent a promising target for clinical trials in both human and canine patients.   Osteosarcoma, the most common primary tumor of bone, occurs predominantly in children, teens and young adults. Patient survival largely depends upon the presence or absence of metastasis. Within five years…

Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy Safe and Tolerable in Children With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors
Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy Safe and Tolerable in Children With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck

The overall survival rates for children with childhood cancers is now over 80%; however, for children with relapsed and refractory tumors, the survival rates remain low. “For example, children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma have a five-year survival of less than ten percent,” explains Keri A. Streby, MD, director of the Neuroblastoma Program in the…

Is Growth Hormone Replacement Safe Following Central Nervous System Tumors?
Is Growth Hormone Replacement Safe Following Central Nervous System Tumors? 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD

Research suggests the benefits of growth hormone therapy outweigh the risks for pediatric cancer survivors. In a new review paper, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital evaluated the risks and benefits associated with administering growth hormone to pediatric patients after diagnosis of a central nervous system tumor. The authors conclude that the therapy has many important…

Featured Researcher — Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD
Featured Researcher — Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD, director of the CRISPR/Gene Editing Core and principal investigator in the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Nationwide Children’s, has taken a winding, international road to his current role at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. From his native Iran to Italy, England, Sweden and the United States, Dr. Naeimi Kararoudi has collected…