A Message from our Scientific Advisory Council Chairman

Childhood cancer is the most common disease killer of children in the United States. There are more then 13,000 newly diagnosed cases each year. It's a startling fact that cancer claims more children's lives than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, AIDS, asthma, and Juvenile diabetes combined. The road ahead in pediatric cancer research however is looking brighter each day. In the past three decades, many advances in diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer have changed the outlook for children diagnosed with cancer. In recent years, the overall survival rate for pediatric oncology patients is nearing 75 percent. While we are proud of this progress, there's still more work to do.

Pediatric cancer treatment and research has never been more promising yet still faces many challenges. The advancement of genomic and proteomic analysis, in which it is possible to look at hundreds of genes (array expression) or proteins at once, has allowed investigators many new tools and methods to individualize diagnosis and target treatment. Newly emerging cancer therapy is focused on drugs that kill only the cancer cells, and are not toxic to the normal cells of growing pediatric patients. Through the discovery of array expression and biologic agents, researchers can now target those specific genes that have mutated or have altered cell development. In addition, researchers can identify proteins made by cancer cells, which has led to the development of special antibodies that attack these proteins or make them inactive in the cell. The day is approaching when we will understand the molecular signature of pediatric cancer, have access to improved diagnostic testing; have a better understanding of individualized responses to therapeutic intervention; find methods to identify children and families at risk; and clarify the relationship between environment and pediatric cancer.

The Hope Street Kids Pediatric Cancer Research Grant and Fellowship awards program continues to support and advance the work of young, enthusiastic investigators with fresh ideas that will form the foundation for future clinical trials. This year the HSK Scientific Advisory Council will review dozens of proposal and select eight to ten innovative projects from academic medical centers across the country. These novel projects offer excellent opportunities to make a critical difference in the lives of children with cancer. Many of the previous young investigators funded by HSK have gone on to receive funding from outside sources for larger studies—an opportunity they may not have had without the experience and seed funds that HSK provided.

Caroline 's vision of eliminating all cancer is achievable—but we must continue to be diligent about funding research. It will take the collaborative efforts of both private and public research funding to keep us on track. HSK continues to play a most important role in leading this fight.

Dr. Stephen Chanock
National Cancer Institute
Chairman, HSK Scientific Advisory Council