• Metastatic solid tumours
• Apheresis
• Palliation/end-of-life
• Bioethics

In the area of stem cell research, our team concerns itself with the efficient and productive collection of stem cells with a goal to maximal harvest and surveillance of mrd.  Of particular interest is research into processes that will allow maximal efficient cell harvest in very young children.

In collaboration with the onsite laboratories, we hope to explore the potential of product manipulation related to dendritic and cellular therapies.

My interests extend to the issues highlighting cross-cultural care as well as the psychosocial issues that present to the patients and families within different cultural populations.  Work has also begun on the investigation of alternative or complimentary medical practices in the field of pediatric oncology.

Bone marrow transplantation in children: Seen through their eyes
Pediatric and adolescent subjects will be given the opportunity to share their bone marrow transplant experience with health care providers and other children embarking on similar therapies through the use of photo voice.  This technique is achieved by providing subjects with disposable cameras and inviting them to answer specific questions using the camera to reveal their treatment experience during, and after their transplant.  The specific questions used to prompt the subjects will be: What do you wish to share with your doctors and nurses, your family and other children going through the same isolation? What was being in isolation like?  How did you cope with pain? 

Once the pictures are developed, the transplant physician or medical student will interview the subject about the significance of each photograph taken. 

Multi-centre phase II study for international intraocular retinoblastoma classification groups B,C & D tumours treated with carboplatin-etoposide-vincristine-cyclosporine-focal therapy multimodality protocol (Short title:  OCRN Multi-center RB 2003)
This study aims to establish a new standard of care for retinoblastoma, by avoiding eye removal and radiation in children who may otherwise become blind because of their tumours, or suffer second malignancies from radiation.  This study aims to also confirm the role of cyclosporine in reversal of multi-drug resistance, setting the stage for further trials in retinoblastoma and other cancers with novel MDR inhibitors.

Returning research results to research participants:  A needs and attitudes assessment of research participants and their guardians
The goal of this project is to examine the needs and attitudes of research participants and their guardians with respect to the offer of return of a summary of research results after a study has been completed. This will be done with the use of a previously piloted, fully developed questionnaire exploring the return of research results to research participants. 

Kissoon N, Strahlendorf C. Goal Directed Pheresis Therapies. Current Concepts in Pediatric Critical Care, 2006:95-102.

Strahlendorf C, Chan G. Successful Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvest on a 5.5-kg Infant. J Clin Apheresis Dec 2005.

Strahlendorf C.  Commentary: Optimizing peripheral stem cell mobilization and harvest in very small children. J Clin Apheresis 2005 Jul;20(2):63-4.

Strahlendorf C, Chan G.  Peripheral blood monocyte count as an aid in optimizing progenitor collection in children.  Pediatr Blood Cancer, 2004 Oct;43(5):610-1.

Analyn Perez - Oncology clinic RN
Grace Chan - Apheresis coordinator
Joanne Shinde - Clinical research associate
Nita Takeuchi - Senior clinical research associate
Colleen Fitzgerald - Clinical research manager