Cancer

A message from our division chief

As the largest childhood cancer and blood disorders center in North Texas, we have the responsibility to provide industry-leading care to one in five children in Texas diagnosed with cancer.

The Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD) is driven by discovery and invigorated by transformative approaches to clinical care. Research conducted by physicians within our division is consistently recognized nationally and internationally by our pediatric peers and the scientific community.

One of the world’s top academic journals, Science Immunology, selected a peer-reviewed article by Andrew Y. Koh, M.D., Director of Pediatric Cellular and ImmunoTherapeutics Program at Children’s Health and Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, as one of its top five papers of 2023.

The revolutionary discoveries from CCBD are not only making headlines but are also making a tremendous impact on the lives of our patients and families. Children’s Health is one of the country’s few designated Qualified Treatment Centers to operationalize FDA-approved ex vivo gene therapies for beta thalassemia, sickle cell anemia and cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. This one-time treatment has the potential to cure patients of their disease.

In addition, our physicians are leading the way in clinical collaboration with the first Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) in a pediatric center. This is a noteworthy example of the continual innovation and collaboration persistent throughout the division to provide both rapid and long-term care.

Clinical excellence resonates throughout our center as providers and care teams dedicate each day to translating research and data into life-changing treatments for our patients.

Patrick Leavey, M.D.

OUTCOMES

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Innovations in pediatric cancer and blood disorders: 2024 year in review

This past year, the Center for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, part of Children’s Health, has led innovations that transformed pediatric cancer care. In partnership with UT Southwestern, we’re proud to share these advancements – which highlight our ongoing mission to make life better for children. Through groundbreaking clinical trials, new treatments and pioneering programs – we continue to be recognized among the nation’s best children’s hospitals.

Read about our latest innovations in pediatric cancer care and research below:

New gene therapies change outcomes for rare blood disorders

Children living with sickle cell disease (SCD) or other blood disorders face serious health risks. Bone marrow transplant is currently the only cure – but it has significant risks. Children’s Health is among the first centers in the country to offer new gene therapies to children with SCD and beta thalassemia. These therapies use edited versions of a child’s own genes to help them produce healthy blood cells, reduce symptoms, and lower or eliminate the need for blood transfusions – all while avoiding the risks associated with transplant.

Combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy to improve outlook for pediatric cancer patients

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized treatment for some adult cancers, but they aren’t as effective against pediatric solid tumors. Would that change if patients received an ICI and chemotherapy together? Pediatric oncologists at Children’s Health are leading a clinical trial to find out. Combining treatment modalities could prove to have multiple benefits, making tumors more vulnerable to the immune system while enhancing the patient’s response to chemo.

Can addressing socioeconomic disparities improve outcomes for children with solid tumors?

Geography and race don’t cause solid tumors – but they can affect survival rates. That’s what investigators at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern found when they studied the outcomes of 4,000 pediatric patients in Texas. Specifically, children who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods or belong to certain racial minorities have a higher risk of death five years after diagnosis compared to other children. The study doesn’t identify specific causes, but in general, investigators agree more research and more resources devoted to high-risk communities can help address these disparities.

Discover more on pediatric oncology and hematology at Children's Health