Pediatric Leukemia Research & Clinical Trials
Discover the latest research advances in pediatric leukemia treatment. Explore clinical trials focused on improving outcomes for children while minimizing long-term side effects. Learn about CAR-T cell therapy, reduced-intensity treatment protocols, and precision medicine approaches for young patients.
Why Pediatric Leukemia Research Matters
Pediatric leukemia treatment has achieved remarkable success, with cure rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer, exceeding 90%. However, research continues to focus on maintaining these high cure rates while reducing treatment toxicity and long-term side effects that can impact survivors for decades.
Unlike adult leukemia research that often focuses on improving survival, pediatric research increasingly emphasizes quality of life, reducing long-term effects, and allowing children to thrive after treatment.
Key Research Priorities
- Maintaining High Cure Rates while reducing treatment intensity
- Minimizing Long-Term Effects including heart problems, second cancers, and cognitive issues
- Improving Outcomes for High-Risk Patients including those with relapsed disease
- Personalizing Treatment based on genetic risk factors
Active Pediatric Leukemia Research Projects
Advances in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Madelyn Burkart
Institution: Lurie Children's Hospital
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Timeline
Start: January 2023
Completion: December 2026
Outcomes of Measurable Residual Disease in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia before and after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Validation of Difference from Normal Flow Cytometry with Chimerism Studies and Wilms Tumor 1 Gene Expression.
Principal Investigator: Dr. David A Jacobsohn
Institution: Lurie Children's Hospital
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Timeline
Start: January 2017
Completion: December 2020
Recent Pediatric Treatment Advances
Reduced-Intensity Chemotherapy
Research demonstrates that some pediatric patients can achieve the same high cure rates with 30% less chemotherapy. This reduction significantly decreases the risk of long-term side effects including heart problems, second cancers, and learning difficulties.
CAR-T Cell Therapy
CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for relapsed pediatric ALL, achieving complete remission in 80-90% of patients who had exhausted other options. Research continues to improve safety and expand availability.
Precision Medicine
Genetic testing now guides treatment decisions, identifying patients who can safely receive reduced treatment and those who need intensive therapy. This personalization optimizes outcomes while minimizing unnecessary toxicity.
Supporting Pediatric Leukemia Research
Pediatric leukemia research has achieved remarkable success, but continues to improve. Supporting research helps maintain high cure rates while making treatment gentler and reducing long-term effects that impact survivors throughout their lives.