National Pediatric Cancer Foundation

Programs: The national pediatric cancer foundation funds pediatric cancer research with the goal of leading to the treatment and elimination of pediatric cancer worldwide. We accomplish our mission through our research initiative, the sunshine project, an innovative collaboration of 23 hospitals nationwide. This collaborative research model is unique and effective in accelerating the development of new treatments against childhood cancer. See schedule o for further program service accomplishments. In developing this collaboration, the foundation has brought together some of the country's leading investigators and institutions to drive the process of finding a cure. Investigators are performing three vital phases of research simultaneously: basic science, translational research and clinical trials. These major research components not only allow doctors to identify new agents in fighting cancer, but also help researchers to understand the cancer cells response to the drug. The national pediatric cancer foundation is making great strides in its mission to find a cure for childhood cancer. Current initiatives of the sunshine project are as follows:a phase i trial of dose escalation of metformin in combination with vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide in children with relapsed or refractory solid tumors. Phase ii study of nab-paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine for treatment of recurrent/refractory sarcoma in teenagers and young adults. Adoptive cellular therapy following dose-intensified temozolomide in newly-diagnosed pediatric high-grade gliomas. (phase 1) phase 1 trial of the lsd1 inhibitor sp-2577 in patients with relapsed or refractory ewing sarcoma. A phase lb/ii study to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of nivolumab or nivolumab in combination with azacitidine in patients with recurrent, resectable osteosarcoma. Current non treatment/pre-clinical studies in 2018 consist of:personalized medicine: pediatric total cancer care protocol - this tissue and blood banking trial was launched in 2013 with the focus to further personalize medicine for children with cancer. Comprehensive molecular profiling of rare pediatric and young adult cancers. Role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (mdsc) in the development of immune tolerance after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation. (allohct)clinical utilization of comprehensive genetic profiling for pediatric malignancies. Genomic profiling of multiple synchronous neuroblastomas in a patient with germline phox2b mutation. Genomic profiling of bilateral wilms tumor that developed in infancy in siblings with underlying genetic cause. Pre-clinical assessment of expanded tumor-infiltrating nk cells in pediatric soft-tissure sarcoma. Development of personalized rna loaded nanoparticles for children with refractory solid tumors. Preclinical study of anti-pd-1 antibody in combination with 5-azacytidine in mouse models of osteosarcoma. Rated a 4-star charity by charity navigator, given a gold level rating by guidestar and received accreditation from the bbb wise giving alliance. These are the highest ratings a nonprofit can receive.