Nicklaus Children’s: Leading the way in children’s brain cancer research and treatment
Cancer is always a challenging diagnosis for families, and when it occurs in children, it’s even more devastating. All too frequently, the source of cancer among children is a brain tumor. According to the National Brain Tumor Society, brain tumors are the most common solid tumor in children and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children ages 0-19. All told, about 5,230 new cases of brain tumors are diagnosed in children each year.
Light Amid the Darkness
If there’s any solace for parents in this situation, it’s that treatments for pediatric brain tumors have vastly improved in recent years and continue to do so. Currently, the five-year relative survival rate for kids with brain tumors is 83.9 percent. Even higher survival rates are expected in the years ahead as new medical technology is developed and treatment plans are improved and advanced.
Gabriel was diagnosed with a typical teratoid rhabdoid tumor when he was only 5 years old. This is an aggressive type of brain tumor that requires extensive treatment with a high possibility of return.
Gabriel underwent brain surgery at Nicklaus Children’s to remove the tumor. He also received gene therapy and several rounds of chemotherapy followed by rehabilitation to support his recovery. Thanks to the comprehensive care he received from the entire team at Nicklaus Children’s, he is now cancer free. Today he is a thriving 9-year-old boy.
The Cutting Edge of Care
At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, we serve a pivotal role in these advances with our Neuro-Oncology Program. The program is one of the largest of its kind in Florida, and it brings together specialists in a variety of medical fields to provide comprehensive, innovative, and compassionate care for the children and families who are facing this complex diagnosis. In collaboration with the Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute and Brain Institute, this program brings together specialists from different departments and medical specialties to provide the best treatments available.
The key to effectively treating a pediatric brain tumor starts with a proper diagnosis. Not all brain tumors are created equally, and an accurate diagnosis helps the team determine the best treatment plan for the child. Nicklaus Children’s was the first pediatric facility in Florida to offer intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI), which is the gold standard in differentiating between healthy and abnormal brain tissue. In addition, Nicklaus Children’s specialists also collaborate with other national institutions in assessing tumor biopsies to determine the absolute best course of treatment for each individual child.
The Forefront of Research
Thanks to these advances in care, the prognosis and survival rates for children with brain tumors have improved drastically over the last decade. Our multidisciplinary specialists at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital continue to push boundaries and challenge current practices to obtain better outcomes for children with brain tumors.
As part of the Neuro-Oncology Program, we provide personalized molecular genomic testing of the tumors, as well as clinical trials of novel tumor vaccines. Nicklaus Children’s is also currently taking part in more than 80 clinical studies in the fight against pediatric cancers.
Nicklaus Children’s is leading a study on the safety and feasibility of using magnetic resonance (MR) guided focused ultrasound technology - an incision-free technique- to treat centrally located brain tumors in children and young adults.
The research study, which began in 2017 at Nicklaus Children’s, has so far treated more than five patients ranging from 8 to 22 years of age.
What this means for the families of children with pediatric brain tumors is more hope than ever before. At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, your child will receive the highest level of care and have every opportunity for the greatest outcome possible.