Mayo Clinic researchers aim to improve understanding of how cancer starts, why cancer cells survive and how to interfere with these processes to eliminate cancer. There is a dire need for better understanding of childhood cancer that allows for the development of more effective and less toxic therapies. Members of Mayo's Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology are actively involved in:
- Investigating the molecular mechanisms that regulate cancer cell survival and proliferation in different types of childhood cancer.
- Determining how childhood cancers affect the immune system and how to effectively apply immunotherapies to combat childhood cancer.
- Evaluating how to most effectively use radiation treatment for different types of childhood cancer.
- Discovering new molecular targets in childhood cancers, including leukemias, lymphomas and brain tumors and using these discoveries to inform the development of new and better treatments for difficult-to-treat childhood cancers.
- Testing the effectiveness of new drugs in laboratory models of childhood cancer.
- Leading the conception and design of national clinical trials focused on improving the treatment of childhood cancers; our Mayo Clinic team leads these national studies that are carried out at Mayo Clinic as well as institutions across the USA and Canada.
- Analyzing patient-reported outcomes to better understand and to improve patient and family experience during a childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Research on bleeding disorders and thrombosis
Members of this division are involved in research that focuses on surgical outcomes in children with bleeding disorders. These researchers also are reviewing Mayo Clinic's experience in managing complications of deep vein thrombosis and the impact of this condition on quality of life in children. The results of this study will improve the immediate care of children who have thrombosis and provide long-term follow-up to prevent potential complications.
Publications
See a list of publications about pediatric cancer and blood disorders by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.