Studying the Late Effects of Childhood Cancer
Investigators at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have been leaders in studying and reporting on medical and psychological late effects in survivors of childhood cancer.
Current research activities include:
CHOP Investigator Initiated Studies
Fertility Preservation in Prepubertal Boys: An Experimental Approach
This is a study for prepubertal boys whose treatment will likely cause future infertility. It involves taking a piece of testicular tissue prior to the start of chemotherapy and freezing it for possible use in the future to achieve pregnancy.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing for patients at risk for infertility and premature ovarian failure
This is a study for prepubertal and pubertal girls whose treatment will likely cause future infertility or premature ovarian failure. It involves taking a piece of ovarian tissue by doing a laparoscopic biopsy and freezing it for possible use in the future to achieve pregnancy.
Ovarian Reserve After Cancer: Longitudinal Effects (ORACLE)
This study looks at ovarian function in adolescent and young adult females before, during and after cancer treatments.
A Longitudinal Evaluation of Decision Making and Recovery of Spermatogenesis in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors Who Sperm Banked at Diagnosis
This study offers a follow-up questionnaire to adolescent and young adult males who banked sperm at diagnosis. Additionally, subjects have the opportunity to have a semen analysis to evaluate for recovery of their own sperm making ability.
Thyroid Gland Screening Surveillance in Childhood Cancer Survivors after Radiotherapy
This study is looking at our current algorithm for thyroid nodule screening in survivors who have received any radiation in the region of the neck.
Growth Plate Disruption in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Survivors
This study is examining bone architecture in survivors treated for neuroblastoma with cis-retinoic acid.
Prospective detection of early CKD (chronic kidney disease) among Wilms’ Tumor survivors
This study is evaluating patients who have been treated for Wilms’ Tumor for hypertension as a marker for early kidney disease.
Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Self-Management via Texting, Education and Plans for Survivors
This randomized control trial (RCT) will deliver customized survivorship care plans to AYA cancer survivors and test whether a tailored mobile health intervention enhances survivorship care plan uptake.
Transition Readiness of Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
This study is evaluating a measure to assess readiness for transition to adult care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.
Stand Up To Cancer OPTUM Health Collaboration
We are part of a new working group to study survivorship using medical claim data through OPTUM labs.
Cooperative Group Studies
We participate in many cancer control and late effect studies through Children’s Oncology Group including research on medication adherence, quality of life during therapy for leukemia and Hodgkin disease, neurocognitive function in leukemia, and ovarian function in lymphoma.
Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)
In 1996, Children’s Hospital became one of 27 sites across the United States and Canada to participate in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), which was established with funding from the National Cancer Institute. The initial cohort for CCSS involved over 14,000 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed between 1970 and 1986; more than 800 of these survivors were Children's Hospital patients. Data collected as part of this study provides an excellent resource to help investigate current and future questions regarding consequences of therapy, interventions, and quality of life among childhood cancer survivors. Children’s Hospital is now participating in the expansion of the cohort for CCSS to include survivors diagnosed between 1987 and 1999.