A Snapshot of Pediatric Cancers - National Cancer Institute

A Snapshot of Pediatric Cancers - National Cancer Institute

 

A Snapshot of Pediatric Cancers

Incidence and Mortality

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children between infancy and age 14. Approximately 12,060 new cases of pediatric cancer are expected to be diagnosed in children aged 0–14 years in 2012. The major types of childhood cancers are leukemias and brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, which account for more than half of new cases. White and Hispanic children are more likely than children from any other racial or ethnic group to develop cancer.
Although the incidence of invasive cancer in children has increased slightly over the past 30 years, mortality rates have declined by more than 50 percent for many childhood cancers.¹ The combined 5-year survival for all childhood cancers has improved from 63 percent in the mid-1970s to 83 percent today. The progress in survival rates is largely attributable to improvements in treatments and to the high proportion of patients participating in clinical trials.
The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown, and for the most part they cannot be prevented. In rare cases, children who are at increased risk of developing a certain cancer (for example, colorectal cancer) due to inherited genetic alterations may have surgery to prevent it. Depending on the type of cancer, children may receive different standard treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, cerebrospinal fluid diversion, radiation therapy, watchful waiting, chemotherapy with stem cell transplant, biological therapy, or targeted therapy.

Trends in NCI Funding for Pediatric Cancers¹ Research

The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) investment² in pediatric cancers research increased from $172.7 million in fiscal year (FY) 2007 to $195.5 million in FY 2011. In addition to this funding, NCI supported $60.4 million in pediatric cancers research in FY 2009 and 2010 using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).³

Examples of NCI Activities Relevant to Pediatric Cancers

• The Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) initiative is identifying and validating therapeutic targets to develop new, more-effective treatments for children with pediatric cancers.
• The Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP) evaluates new agents against childhood solid tumor and leukemia models.
• The NCI-supported Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is following more than 14,000 childhood cancer survivors, with approximately 3,700 siblings of survivors serving as control subjects, to assess mortality rates, determine risks of developing subsequent cancers, and better understand the long-term effects of cancer treatments on the heart, the lungs, and fertility.
• The Center for Cancer Research's Pediatric Oncology Branch conducts translational research studies aimed at improving outcomes for children with cancer and genetic tumor predisposition syndromes.
• In collaboration with the Children's Oncology Group, NCI is conducting a number of studies of Genetic Modifiers of Osteogenic Sarcoma to identify genetic variants linked to the risk of developing this bone cancer, which has peaks in incidence both in early adolescence and later in life.
• NCI's Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program supports three Childhood Cancer Epidemiology Consortia that conduct multidisciplinary research on childhood cancer risk factors and new therapies.

Selected Advances in Pediatric Cancers Research

• Using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, researchers found that poor physical health and neurocognitive function are associated with unemployment in survivors of childhood cancer. Published August 2011. [PubMed Abstract]
• Researchers identified genetic variants associated with an increased risk of second primary cancers in survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma who received radiation therapy. Reported August 2011.
• Results of an epigenetic and genomic study suggest that blocking the activity of a protein called spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) has the potential to benefit children with retinoblastoma. Published January 2012. [PubMed Abstract]
• A long-term follow-up study showed that children treated for advanced glioma have impairments in neuropsychological functioning but have a quality of life within or above the normal range. Published February 2012. [PubMed Abstract]
• See this PubMed list of selected free full-text journal articles on NCI-supported research relevant to pediatric cancer. You can also search PubMed for additional scientific articles.

Additional Resources for Pediatric Cancers

• NCI Childhood Cancers Home Page
  NCI's gateway for information about pediatric cancers.
• Childhood Cancers Fact Sheet
  A fact sheet about trends in childhood cancers in the United States and NCI's current research on childhood cancers. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 6.40
• Young People with Cancer: A Handbook for Parents
  Overview on the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancers, including common medical procedures and side effects. Suggests ways to talk with children about cancer, support family life, and manage practical issues.
• PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Pediatric Treatment
  Treatment options for childhood cancers.
• Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)
  Expert-reviewed information summary about the health problems that continue or appear after cancer treatment has ended.

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• ¹ Includes cancers in children 0–18 years of age. Does not include research on pediatric AIDS, infant mortality, science enrichment, or anti-smoking.
• ² The estimated NCI investment is based on funding associated with a broad range of peer-reviewed scientific activities. For additional information on research planning and budgeting at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), see About NIH.
• ³ For more information regarding ARRA funding at NCI, see Recovery Act Funding at NCI.
• ⁴ Scientific Area Codes
• ⁵ NCI Funded Research Portfolio