Funding Innovative Childhood Cancer Research – American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society has designated September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and already the Gold Together Champions fundraising campaign is up and running. Individuals, clubs, friends, groups, and entire schools raise community awareness and set goals to raise funds which directly support childhood cancer research, advocacy, and patient support.
Research funds are urgently needed to develop better therapies for the devastating cancers that children face. Childhood cancer takes a tremendous toll because it strikes so early in life. Children undergo treatment during a time of vital physical and mental development, leaving them vulnerable to long-term side effects, even if their cancers are cured. Furthermore, childhood cancers are often biologically different from the cancers that share the same name in adults, meaning that not only is childhood-specific research required, but children and adults ultimately may need different treatments.
In the last decade, breakthroughs in molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment. Targeted therapy, for example, targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread. Biomarkers include proteins and gene mutations found in cancer cells. When cancer cells die, they emit DNA into the blood system. A biomarker is a unique signal that is specific to a patient’s disease and can be measured in blood or tissue. Learning the signatures of cancer cells by using the cancer genome sequencing projects facilitates identifying signals in the blood.
Giovanna Whitting was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age eight. After years of surgeries and chemotherapy, she was able to participate in a clinical trial based on biomarker testing. Now 21 years old, she says, “Biomarker testing opened the door to treatment that saved my life.”
As researchers learn more about the DNA changes and proteins that drive cancer, they are better able to design treatments that target these proteins. This knowledge allows doctors to precisely target a specific cancer early so patients may not have to undergo more generalized treatments like chemo and radiation that may not work as well.
It’s urgent that we fund this innovative research. For more information about donating or joining the Gold Together Champions, visit www.ACSEngage.org/GoldTogetherChampionsCA. For information about childhood cancer, visit www.cancer.org/childhood.

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