Archive for cancer
From our labs and clinics: 10 research advances in 2021
Pediatric medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital rests on a strong base of discovery science. But it can take decades for bench discoveries to be validated and replicated in humans and for treatments to be proven safe. When lab discoveries advance on the road to clinical application, it’s cause to celebrate. Here are 10 research success ... Read More
Surviving stem cell transplant: New hope when the donor isn’t a full match
To see Tara Daniels today, with a corporate job in marketing and about to close on a house, you’d never know what she’s been through, how thrilled she is to be alive. This month marks five years since she received a high-risk bone marrow transplant for a life-threatening blood cancer. Tara woke up feeling sick ... Read More
Generations of excellence in caring for childhood bone cancers: Dr. Gebhardt and Dr. Anderson
When Dr. Mark Gebhardt was a surgical resident at Boston Children’s Hospital in the early ’80s, doctors were just starting to use chemotherapy to treat bone cancers like osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Boston Children’s and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were among the first places to offer this treatment. They were also among the first to ... Read More
Preventing leukemia by preventing rogue blood cells from taking over
As we age, many of us acquire mutations that cause some of our blood stem cells to multiply faster than others, forming their own distinct populations or “clones.” This is known as clonal hematopoiesis. In some cases, a single clone originating from a single genetically altered or mutated stem cell can expand to comprise up ... Read More
Finding new targets for acute myeloid leukemia in children
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common leukemia diagnosed in children. It is hard to treat and can be fatal in some cases. While there have been some recent successes with genetically targeted therapies for adults, AML has different genetic features in children, and care has been slow to advance. “The state of ... Read More
Pleuropulmonary blastoma: Caring for Cal
Each time the UPS truck makes its way up Becky Baker’s driveway in Lyons, New York, her 3-year-old grandson, Cal, is certain there’s a package for him. Today, the delivery is in fact for Cal — but not exactly the drivable mini Jeep he was hoping for. “Those are your diapers, buddy,” his grandmother says, ... Read More
RNA-modifying protein offers a possible lead for treating aggressive cancers
A protein that modifies RNAs, called METTL1, could be a target for treating some aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancers, suggests new research in Molecular Cell. The study provides evidence that blocking METTL1 curbs cancer cells’ ability to grow, selectively killing them, and the researchers believe it could be targeted with drugs. METTL1 and related proteins had previously ... Read More
A surprising diagnosis leads to treatment for Liam’s liver cancer
For Liam Dickerson, what started as a simple sick day turned into a journey he never could have expected. In 2018, he wasn’t feeling well and paid a visit to his high school’s nurse. Although he was experiencing chest and under arm pain, the nurse worried that he might have appendicitis and recommended he see ... Read More
Amazing Grace: Toddler receives life-changing care for cloacal anomaly
Grace Brown loves playing with her six brothers and sisters, watching educational TV shows, and just being an average toddler. But by some accounts, she shouldn’t be here at all. “We were told before she was even born that she wasn’t likely to survive,” says her mother, K’Shayla. After Grace — and her twin sister, ... Read More
Coping with hepatoblastoma: It didn’t take magic for John’s family to find answers
John Ogden considers himself a bit of a wizard. When his dad, Nick, says he wishes he had a boat, the 5-year-old points to a picture of one and casts a magic spell, declaring, “Moonshine, moonlight, make this sailboat come to life!” “He’s a typical kid: inquisitive, imaginative, ornery, and fun,” says his mom, Julie. ... Read More