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According to the World Health Organization, over 400,000 children and adolescents (0-19 years old) are diagnosed with cancer (1), while every 3 minutes, a child loses the battle with the disease. Although childhood cancer incidence is rare, it is the leading cause of disease-derived deaths past infancy (children and adolescents 0-19 years old) in the US and other developed countries (2). The most common types of cancer in children and adolescents are leukemias, lymphomas, central nervous system (CNS) and brain tumors (3).
This year, the focus of the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICDD), is to pay tribute to the groundbreaking impact that families and caregivers are having on children and adolescents with cancer. Additionally, the day is focused on raising awareness around the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, an initiative aiming to achieve at least 60% global survival and reduce suffering of all children with cancer, by 2030 (3).
Raising awareness about childhood cancer requires a multi-faceted approach, as the impact of childhood cancer goes far beyond physical health. The emotional and financial toll on families and on survivors can also be overwhelming. Children and adolescents who survived cancer, often deal with treatment-derived comorbidities, cognitive impairment, heart disease, high risk for secondary tumors and others(4).
Despite the significant progress made in the field of childhood cancer, contributing to the decrease of cancer deaths, there is still work to be done. The overall incidence of childhood cancer has an average increase rate of 1% per year from 1997(4). In developed countries, approximately 80% of the childhood cancer incidents are treated, whereas low and middle-income countries (LMICs)the survival rates dramatically drop to 30% due to the lack of awareness, tools for timely and accurate diagnosis, inaccessibility to care, and relapse(5,6,7).
Do you want to know more about the Childhood Cancer survival rates in your country? Click here.
As childhood cancer prevention is not generally feasible, a comprehensive strategy is urgently needed to reduce the burden of cancer in children and improve patient outcomes . Coordinated efforts are needed from global governments, industry experts, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society to build prompt and accurate diagnosis pathways, accompanied with personalized and evidence-based treatment decisions, as well as tailored long-term supportive care for cancer survivors.
Everyone touched by cancer needs a prompt and clear path to the right care. We, at SOPHiA GENETICS, simplify complex data and reveal what matters most.
Genomic-powered precision medicine is at the forefront of innovation in cancer research. Advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology have brought a new era in cancer care, expanding our understanding of pathogenic variants triggering oncogenesis and therapeutic targets.
Genomic research is playing a critical role in the battle against childhood cancer through identifying new targets and personalizing treatment options, developing new diagnostic tools, improving risk stratification as well as advancing immunotherapy solutions(8).
By providing biologically actionable in the underlying biology of childhood tumors, we can provide information and access to relevant clinical trials, effective existing treatment schemes and improved outcomes for children with cancer worldwide. Our CE-IVD bundle solutions empower data-driven decisions at all stages of the cancer research journey through a combination of accurate healthcare data analysis, intuitive interpretation functionalities, and secure knowledge sharing.
Our commitment is to provide clinician researchers and caregivers with evidence-based clinical decision tools, to establish research collaborations to unravel the pathophysiology of various cancers and unleash the power of precision medicine, leveraging our AI-based platform and solutions.
By continuing to invest in cancer research, we aim to actively contribute to the elimination of cancer-related deaths. Fighting childhood cancer is essential for building a healthier, equitable and prosperous future for all. Working together, we can make a significant progress in the battle against childhood cancer and bring a positive impact in the lives of children with cancer and their families.
Every effort matters, and every voice is necessary. Global advocacy raises awareness and can therefore bring a change and hope to childhood cancer. By using social media to support and participate in relevant events and organizations, educating yourself and others you can help make a difference in the fight against childhood cancer.
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More than six people die every hour in the US from a blood cancer. Solutions can’t come fast enough for those who suffer with these cancers all around the world. Fortunately, researchers studying blood diseases have experienced rapid advances in their capabilities to develop and test effective therapies with some extremely significant advancements.
Some of the most difficult limitations of molecular profiling for hematological cancer disorders include accurate detection of mutations in GC-rich gene regions and insertions or deletions in challenging genes. Data analysis on NGS DNA samples identifies complex variants to accurately identify myeloid malignancies. This validation of targeted mutations has encouraged many medical centers to order NGS testing for every acute myeloid leukemia case.
Faster, more efficient NGS analysis can drive better hematological cancer research outcomes to potentially improve care for patients with blood cancers and diagnosis of new cases.
International guidelines for hematological cancer diagnosis and treatment are continuously evolving and create the need for laboratories’ fast adaptation. Those evidence-based guidelines by physician commissions contribute to improving the clinical standard of care. The World Health Organization, European Hematology Association, European LeukemiaNet, College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Hematology call for increased use of NGS testing for initial diagnostic workup of blood cancers.
Detection of the relevant biomarkers for myeloid malignancies by NGS, per international guidelines, helps to ensure optimal clinical trial enrollment, therapy validation, dose protocols and other research benefits. A solution that can be constantly updated and inform based on those guidelines ensures that the research is always current.
The accurate assessment of biomarkers and the validity of resulting research findings depend on reliable DNA and RNA fusion panels and easily reproducible results. Data analysis and reporting in a comprehensive platform eliminates silos of valuable data and maximizes its application.
The SOPHiA DDM™ platform enables the upload of multimodal data from any environment to one of the world’s largest networks of connected labs. Data remains the property of the healthcare institution, but pseudonymized and pooled with like data, it can propel research and ultimately treatment forward with the goal of improved patient care.
Learn more about the capabilities of SOPHiA DDM™ platform for myeloid biomarker detection and more by contacting us today.
SOPHiA GENETICS products are for Research Use Only and not for use in diagnostic procedures unless specified otherwise.
SOPHiA DDM™ Dx Hereditary Cancer Solution, SOPHiA DDM™ Dx RNAtarget Oncology Solution and SOPHiA DDM™ Dx Homologous Recombination Deficiency Solution are available as CE-IVD products for In Vitro Diagnostic Use in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom and Switzerland. SOPHiA DDM™ Dx Myeloid Solution and SOPHiA DDM™ Dx Solid Tumor Solution are available as CE-IVD products for In Vitro Diagnostic Use in the EEA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Israel. Information about products that may or may not be available in different countries and if applicable, may or may not have received approval or market clearance by a governmental regulatory body for different indications for use. Please contact us at [email protected] to obtain the appropriate product information for your country of residence.
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