Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders Research, Reports & Clinical Trials

The Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children's is engaged in more than 75 clinical cancer research studies, all of which are focused on finding new cures, treatments and diagnostic procedures for pediatric malignancies. No hospital in the region features such a wide array of clinical trials for childhood cancer research.

As such, the Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute offers its patients unparalleled hope, offering the latest drug treatments, medical devices, biotechnology and other technological innovations in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Laboratory Cancer Research

Significant progress has been made in the early development of new treatments and diagnosis through childhood cancer research in laboratories at Nicklaus Children's. Molecular and genetic diagnosis and classification of pediatric brain tumors is being developed by micro-array technology. This leading-edge approach is being used for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of malignant solid tumors. Also underway is work focused on the roles of cell growth in the development of drug resistance in pediatric cancers. In an exciting new effort, Nicklaus Children's has made progress in evaluating alternative medicines that are used to treat cancer in other cultures.

Brain Cancer Research Program

Nicklaus Children's Hospital and Research Institute has initiated pediatric neuro/oncology research as a collaborative effort between the Divisions of Pathology, Hematology/Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Neurological Surgery. Several investigators from these departments are involved in brain cancer research to improve the brain cancer treatment and disease free survival.

The major focus of the brain cancer research program is to understand the mechanisms behind the failure of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the reasons for the aggressiveness and invasiveness of brain tumors. The program is investigating the prognostic significance several genetic markers associated with cellular oncogenesis, drug resistance, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, differentiation and programmed cell death (apoptosis). The role of telomerase enzyme in the oncogenesis and aggressive behavior of certain brain tumors is also investigated in this research program. Alternative Medicine Projects include evaluation of the anticancer effects of curcumin and other "natural" compounds.

Through brain tumor research, our aim is to understand the origin, diagnosis, development and differentiation of brain tumor cells during the process of carcinogenesis. Simultaneously, we plan to translate the brain tumor research findings from evaluation of prognostic factors into the treatment of brain cancer patients.

Clinical trials including stem cell transplantation and anti-angiogenesis protocols are being used for patients with brain tumors. Young children are treated without radiation therapy to avoid late effects.

Ongoing Clinical Trials

Hematology and Oncology Clinical Trials

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin in Treating Younger Patients With B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma or Relapsed or Refractory CD22 Positive B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Conditions: B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02981628.


Inotuzumab Ozogamicin and Post-Induction Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk B-ALL, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, and B-LLy

Conditions: Leukemia
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03959085.


Enasidenib for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients With an IDH2 Mutation

Conditions: Leukemia
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04203316.


The Pediatric Acute Leukemia (PedAL) Screening Trial - A Study to Test Bone Marrow and Blood in Children With Leukemia That Has Come Back After Treatment or Is Difficult to Treat - A Leukemia & Lympho

Conditions: Leukemia
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04726241.


A Study of the Drugs Selumetinib Versus Carboplatin/​Vincristine in Patients With Neurofibromatosis and Low-Grade Glioma

Conditions: Glioma, Neurofibromatosis
Principal Investigator: Ziad Khatib
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03871257.


A Study of the Drugs Selumetinib vs. Carboplatin and Vincristine in Patients With Low-Grade Glioma

Conditions: Glioma, Astrocytoma
Principal Investigator: Ziad Khatib
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04166409.


A Study of a New Way to Treat Children and Young Adults With a Brain Tumor Called NGGCT

Conditions: Non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT)
Principal Investigator: Ziad Khatib
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04684368.


Thoracotomy Versus Thoracoscopic Management of Pulmonary Metastases in Patients With Osteosarcoma

Conditions: Osteosarcoma, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Lung
Principal Investigator: Ziad Khatib
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05235165.


Active Surveillance, Bleomycin, Etoposide, Carboplatin or Cisplatin in Treating Pediatric and Adult Patients With Germ Cell Tumors

Conditions: Germ Cell Tumor
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03067181.


Accelerated v's Standard BEP Chemotherapy for Patients With Intermediate and Poor-risk Metastatic Germ Cell Tumours (P3BEP)

Conditions: Germ Cell Tumor
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02582697.


The EndRAD Trial: Eliminating Total Body Irradiation (TBI) for NGS-MRD Negative Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With B-ALL

Conditions: B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)
Principal Investigator: Jorge Galvez-Silva
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03509961.


Pediatric Precision Laboratory Advanced Neuroblastoma Therapy (PEDS-PLAN)

Conditions: Neuroblastoma
Principal Investigator: Guillermo De Angulo
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02559778.


A Study With Tovorafenib (DAY101) as a Treatment Option for Progressive, Relapsed, or Refractory Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Conditions: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05828069.


A Study of Combination Chemotherapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed DAWT and Relapsed FHWT

Conditions: Wilms Tumor
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04322318.


Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Very Low-Risk and Low Risk Fusion Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma

Conditions: Sarcoma
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05304585.


Study to Learn More About the Safety and Effectiveness of the Drug VITRAKVI During Routine Use in Patients With TRK Fusion Cancer Which is Locally Advanced or Spread From the Place Where it Started to

Conditions: Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumor
Principal Investigator: Ossama Maher
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04142437.


Studying the Effect of Levocarnitine in Protecting the Liver From Chemotherapy for Leukemia or Lymphoma

Conditions: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05602194.


A Study to Compare Standard Therapy to Treat Hodgkin Lymphoma to the Use of Two Drugs, Brentuximab Vedotin and Nivolumab

Conditions: Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05675410.


A Study of Lower Radiotherapy Dose to Treat Children With CNS Germinoma

Conditions: Basal Ganglia Germinoma
Principal Investigator: Ziad Khatib
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06368817.


A Study Comparing Abemaciclib Plus Temozolomide to Temozolomide Monotherapy in Children and Young Adults With High-grade Glioma Following Radiotherapy

Principal Investigator: Ziad Khatib
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06413706.


Naxitamab Added to Induction for Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Neuroblastoma

Conditions: Neuroblastoma
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05489887.


A Study of Revumenib in Combination With Chemotherapy for Patients Diagnosed With Relapsed or Refractory Leukemia

Conditions: Leukemia
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05761171.


DFMO as Maintenance Therapy for Molecular High/​Very High Risk and Relapsed Medulloblastoma

Conditions: Medulloblastoma
Principal Investigator: Ossama Maher
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04696029.


Dinutuximab With Chemotherapy, Surgery and Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Children With Newly Diagnosed High Risk Neuroblastoma

Conditions: Ganglioneruoblastoma, Neuroblastoma
Principal Investigator: Maggie Fader
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06172296.


Mismatched Related Donor Versus Matched Unrelated Donor Stem Cell Transplantation for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Acute Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Conditions: Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Principal Investigator: Jorge Galvez-Silva
Learn more at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05457556.


The Children's Oncology Group (COG)

The Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children's has been recognized as a full member of the prestigious Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a nationally funded group of pioneering physicians and institutions. To maintain this standing, full compliance with COG requirements is mandated. Compliance in this group involves not only participation in and adherence to multi-center research protocols, but also submission of accurate and timely data. The Institute has also been awarded a grant by the National Cancer Institute to advance childhood cancer research. In addition, members of the team share their knowledge through publication of clinical research study findings and presentations to national societies of physician scientists.

Active COG Clinical Trials

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Active Non-COG Clinical Trials

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Reports

Published reports are in compliance with the ACoS, CoC and are standard specific.