Pediatric Cancer Research at CHOP
Groundbreaking, patient-focused and multidisciplinary
One of the things that makes the Cancer Center at CHOP one of the best pediatric cancer programs in the nation is its long-standing commitment to pediatric cancer research. Driving this commitment is the Center for Childhood Cancer Research (CCCR), a Center of Emphasis at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute.
The goal of CCCR is to find new treatments and cures for childhood cancer and to help eradicate the pain and suffering it causes. Our pediatric cancer research encompasses highly integrated basic, translational and clinical research involving physicians, nurses, psychologists, scientists and other health professionals who are all experts in their respective fields.
In the lab and in the clinic, our collaborative approach sets us apart from other centers. We have more than 50 investigators from a variety of programs including Oncology, Hematology, Pathology, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology.
The Center is housed in the new Colket Translational Research Building on the Hospital’s South Campus. The dedicated 56,000 square foot space was designed specifically to allow CCCR investigators to occupy clinical and lab space within one building, capturing the synergy of all those working together in one location to achieve one goal — finding a cure for childhood cancer.
Our designation as a Children’s Oncology Group Phase I and Phase II institution helps us advance this mission by allowing us to fast-track clinical trials of new treatments for all types of childhood cancer.
Clinical trials for childhood cancers
Clinical trials are among the fastest and safest ways to find treatments that work against pediatric cancer. Studies have shown that children's survival rates are increased by 20 to 40 percent if their cancer care is coordinated by pediatric oncologists that follow established clinical trial protocols.
As a national leader in pediatric cancer research, not only are the majority of our patients enrolled in some sort of clinical trial but many of the trials that are launched at cancer programs across the country, are developed right here by CHOP's very own cancer researchers — allowing the same people who developed the trial, to care for your child.
A video for families: Experimental Therapy for Pediatric Cancer
Learn more about experimental therapies available at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the importance of clincial trials in pediatric cancer research.
VIDEO APPEARS HERE
Clinical trials are designed for all types of patients, whether you are newly diagnosed or have been diagnosed with a relapsed or refractory cancer.
- Search for clinical trials
- Learn the basics of clinical trials
- Read CHOP's Parent's Guide to Research
What makes us different?
- 100 percent of our cancer physicians are researchers — Our clinicians are constantly thinking of ways to apply pediatric cancer research immediately to improve treatments for patients.
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of only 20 institutions nationwide conducting COG Phase I clinical trials.
- Our physicians/researchers maintain leadership positions in nationally and internationally renowned clinical associations, which are paving the way for new treatments and cures for cancer.
- Host to one of the world's largest genotyping programs, CHOP is the only pediatric hospital to have access to state-of-the-art-high-throughput genotyping technology at this scale, through partnership with The Center for Applied Genomics; critical for detecting gene variations possibly associated with pediatric cancer.
- Training — we have a robust fellowship training program which will train the next generation of physician-scientists dedicated to pediatric oncology and pediatric cancer research.
Our cancer research areas of focus
- Pediatric brain and spinal cord tumor research
- Pediatric leukemia and Lymphoma research
- Sarcoma research
- Neuroblastoma and other embryonal tumor research
- Developmental Therapeutics
- Cancer survivorship
- Behavioral oncology
Recent News
Pediatric cancer research is constantly evolving here at CHOP. Check out some of our latest advancements:
- Inhibitor Sensitivity of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Variants Found in Neuroblastoma
- Genetic landscape of Medulloblastoma
Developmental Therapeutics
Clinical trials for relapsed or refractory pediatric cancers
The Developmental Therapeutics team at Children's Hospital's Cancer Center is made up of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and research associates who provide therapeutic options for children with relapsed or refractory pediatric cancer through innovative clinical trials.
The team includes some of the world's leading experts in pediatric cancer research and drug development, including Peter Adamson, MD, chairman of Children's Oncology Group, an international organization that is at the forefront of efforts to find cures for childhood cancer. Team members work closely together to develop a customized treatment plan for each child, which may include several different clinical trials.
The goals of the program include:
- Improving the outcomes of children, adolescents and young adults with cancer through clinical trials of new investigational agents and regimens
- Working with patients, families and their medical team to determine if participation in a clinical trial of an investigational agent or new treatment approach is right for your child
As part of the program, patients and families have access to the GlaxoSmithKline Hope for Families Fund, to assist with travel and living expenses for eligible children with relapsed or refractory cancer while they are at CHOP for clinical trials.
To find out more information about this program or to request a consult for a second opinion, please call 267-426-0762.
Partnering to find a cure
While some of the best pediatric cancer clinicians and researchers in the world call CHOP their home, to ensure we are bringing the latest research and clinical trials to our patients, our physicians, lead, collaborate and participate with many cooperative groups, including:
- Children's Oncology Group (COG)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI)
- American Society of Hematology (ASH)
- American Society of Pediatric Hematologists/Oncologists (ASPHO)
- New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT)
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC)
- Society for Pediatric Research (SPR)
- Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia & Lymphoma (TACL)
Contact Us
Existing patients or family members, please call
215-590-3025
To schedule an initial appointment or request a 2nd opinion
267-426-0762
