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Childhood Cancer
Collaborations & Networks
Members of the Childhood Cancer research cluster enjoy a wide range of specific collaborations locally, nationally and internationally. These include research collaborations with:
- The BC Cancer Research Centre (BCCRC) and the BC Cancer Agency on a number of basic, translational and clinical research studies
- The National Cancer Institute (USA)
- Oncology investigators at universities and institutes across North America in and Europe
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Provincial Pediatric Oncology Network
CFRI, in partnership with other stakeholders in British Columbia, has taken on a leadership role in the new Provincial Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Network. The Network is co-sponsored by BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) and BC Cancer Agency (BCCA), with start-up funding anticipated from the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
Four program areas are prioritized for development by the Network:
- Long term surveillance of both pediatric and adult survivors of pediatric malignancies
- Educational and communication programs, to ensure appropriate care is delivered in local communities
- Development of psychosocial supports for patients throughout the province
- Networking with community-based palliative care groups
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Research has been identified as one of the seven main functions of the Network. During the Network’s planning process, the need for more coordination and collaboration between research activity at BCCH and BCCA was identified. In particular, the key areas targeted for improvement are:
- Increasing cross-fertilization between BCCH and BCCA research, and enhancing pediatric research at BCCA
- Developing a program for affiliate members in clinical research
- Enhancing linkages with AYA (adolescent to young adults), including outcomes research in adolescents aged 16–20, in order to improve treatment outcomes for this cohort
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There is agreement that the Network will increase the overall coordination between BCCH and BCCA, including acknowledgement of the contribution to clinical research made by the clinical trials conducted within COG, and increasing the formal and informal linkages between the basic researchers at the BC Cancer Research Centre and CFRI.
Children’s Oncology Group (COG)
The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) is a National Cancer Institute-supported (U.S.) clinical trials cooperative group devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. It is the largest children’s oncology network in the world. The Division at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) is a major participant in COG, both as a clinical research site, and in the provision of leadership to overall COG initiatives.
COG has significant impact on the basic science and the conduct of clinical trials for pediatric oncology in North America. The accepted ‘standard of care’ for children with pediatric malignancies is to place them on available clinical trials whenever possible. BCCH’s membership in this network enables B.C. children to receive the most current and successful therapies, and it gives the research and clinical teams here the opportunity to be part of the world’s leading group in the development of basic and clinical research for children with cancer. COG membership provides the Childhood Cancer Research Program easy access to other investigators in the field, participation in both biological and clinical trials, and the ability to ascertain tumour specimens relevant to the research within this research program.
As members of COG, researchers here in B.C. also cooperate with other leading child health institutions to test a wide range of treatment options on large populations of pediatric oncology cases, bringing new therapies into active treatment regimens more quickly than would otherwise be the case. Clinical trials conducted within COG consist of Phase I, II and III trials and the clinical investigators of this Division are active participants in these trials. The clinical research team is currently participating in 72 ethically-approved studies, with over 600 patients registered.
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Last updated:
08/27/2009
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