By reprogramming a 7–year–old girl’s own immune cells to attack an aggressive form of childhood leukemia, a pediatric oncologist has achieved a complete response in his patient, who faced grim prospects when she relapsed after conventional treatment. The innovative experimental therapy used bioengineered T cells, custom–designed to multiply rapidly in the patient, and then destroy leukemia cells. After the treatment, the child’s doctors found that she had no evidence of cancer.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/50777-chop-engineered-immune-t-cell-therapy-anticancer-effect-in-children
Findings from continued clinical studies of investigational chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy, CTL019, demonstrate its potential role in the treatment of certain types of lymphocytic leukemia. In one long-term study of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), results showed that 36 of 39 pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) ALL, or 92%, experienced complete remissions (CR) with CTL0191.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7393851-novartis-new-ctl019-clinic-data-acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia/
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is naming the institution’s principal research tower after Donald Pinkel, M.D., whose legacy of driving progress toward advancing cures for pediatric catastrophic diseases continues at the institution today.
When St. Jude was established 55 years ago, Pinkel, the hospital’s first medical director, committed to finding cures for childhood cancer, leading to groundbreaking treatments that saved countless children’s lives. Many of these cancers were deemed incurable prior to Pinkel’s research, but his distinct approach to eradicating diseases established a model for how cancers could be treated.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7924752-st-jude-childrens-research-hospital-donald-pinkel-tower/
The most detailed analysis yet of the role germline mutations in genes associated with cancer predisposition play in the development of childhood cancer suggests that comprehensive genomic screening may be warranted on all pediatric cancer patients, not just those with a family history of cancer. The study from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project appears in the November 19 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Ultimately, researchers anticipate that systematic monitoring of patients and family members who have germline mutations in cancer predisposition genes will allow the detection of cancers at their earliest and most curable stage, thereby improving the outcomes for these children and family members.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7692851-st-jude-hospital-genome-project/
For children in hospitals, sometimes the best medicine and moments of joy can come with four paws, a wet nose, and a wagging tail. Today, the Joy in Childhood Foundation, the independent charitable foundation powered by Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, is launching its Dogs for Joy program to bring in-residence dogs to children’s hospitals nationwide. Dogs in this program are bred and trained as service dogs but “work” full-time in children’s hospitals. Through more than $2M in initial grants the program will dramatically increase the number of in-residence dog programs in pediatric healthcare settings around the country and the prevalence of animal-assisted therapy as part of treatment.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8444851-joy-in-childhood-foundation-unleashes-dogs-for-joy/
Former University of Texas great Colt McCoy is teaming up with Scott & White Healthcare as part of a philanthropic initiative to raise $50 million for a planned regional children’s hospital. The collaboration was announced today at a reception for hospital officials and donors at Scott & White Hospital in Temple.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/sw/45124/
Every day, sick children fight for life at Children’s Medical Center (www.childrens.com). At their bedsides are some of the world’s best surgeons, determined to do everything in their power to help them.
Beginning Aug. 3, “Children’s Med Dallas,” a five-part TV documentary airing on WFAA Ch. 8, will reveal behind-the-scenes stories of life at the nation’s 7th-largest pediatric hospital.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childrens/51372/
Children’s Medical Center Dallas (Children’s) http://childrens.com is launching a critical stroke initiative to diagnose and treat strokes in children. Pediatric strokes is a little-known condition that occurs as often as leukemia and brain tumors but often is not recognized by parents or physicians, despite the serious short- and long-term health consequences. As part of this effort, Children’s will be one of four research sites in North America participating in this groundbreaking research.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childrens/48624/
In an effort to improve outcomes for patients with some of the deadliest childhood cancers, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have created the world’s largest collection of pediatric solid tumor samples, drug-sensitivity data and related information and have made the resource available at no charge to the global scientific community.
St. Jude and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute collaborated to create the resource, known as the Childhood Solid Tumor Network. The work is reported today as an advance online publication in the scientific journal Nature.
“Survival rates for children with recurrent solid tumors have not improved significantly in more than 20 years and remain below 30 percent,” said corresponding author Michael Dyer, Ph.D., chair of the St. Jude Department of Developmental Neurobiology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. “This research will change that by promoting scientific collaboration to leverage the efforts of researchers worldwide to advance understanding and ultimately treatment of pediatric solid tumors.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8121952-st-jude-childrens-childhood-solid-tumor-network/
CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading global medical technology company, today announced the launch of the ReVel™ ventilator, a new high performance, portable device designed for pediatric to adult (min. 5Kg) patients who require breathing support during transport.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/carefusion/50615/
Researchers have identified the first gene mutation associated with a chronic and often fatal form of neuroblastoma that typically strikes adolescents and young adults. The finding provides the first clue about the genetic basis of the long-recognized but poorly understood link between treatment outcome and age at diagnosis.
The study involved 104 infants, children and young adults with advanced neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. Investigators discovered the ATRX gene was mutated only in patients age 5 and older. The alterations occurred most often in patients age 12 and older. These older patients were also more likely than their younger counterparts to have a chronic form of neuroblastoma and die years after their disease is diagnosed.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52992-st-jude-pediatric-cancer-genome-project-neuroblastoma-research
Aflac, the number one provider of supplemental insurance in the United States, and recognized six times by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, is once again teaming with Macy’s to produce and sell the 2012 Aflac Holiday duck . This is the twelfth year that Aflac and Macy’s are selling the annual plush duck, with all net proceeds going to support research and treatment for childhood cancer.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58454-aflac-macys-annual-holiday-duck-design-pediatric-cancer-patient-atlanta
