Children's Hospital Colorado

Research at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

At the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, discoveries from our laboratories are changing the way care is delivered for pediatric hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplants.

Our scientists are recognized as national leaders in basic and clinical science research and have funding to support their research from numerous national hematology and oncology foundations.

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Research Article

The Children's Hospital Colorado Neuroscience Institute is making advances in the treatment of craniopharyngioma, a benign but debilitating brain tumor that primarily affects children. Led by Dr. Todd Hankinson, the Institute has formed a consortium dedicated to researching new treatments and is now leading clinical trials exploring novel therapies.

Clinical Trial

The goal of the study is to identify biologically rational therapeutics for the medical treatment of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma by confirming the overexpression of specific molecules and ultimately improving treatment for patients with this rare tumor.

Diagnosis
Patients with the diagnosis or clinical suspicion of craniopharyngioma in whom planned clinical management will include tissue sampling
Age
0-21 years of age

Our oncology and hematology advances

We believe that state-of-the-art treatment for pediatric cancer and blood disorders typically includes enrollment in a clinical trial. In fact, research shows that children who participate in clinical trials have better survival rates than children who do not.

Our physicians and nurses collaborate with laboratory researchers to find new cures and better cancer treatment. Some of our team's most significant advancements include:

  • Our physicians discovered new genes important in cancer, and we are using this knowledge to develop new drugs and treatment protocols that more specifically and effectively kill cancer cells. We identified new cancer targets for brain cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
  • Clinical research by a team at our Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center revolutionized the care of children with hemophilia. The researchers transitioned the focus from treatment to prevention of life-threatening and debilitating bleeding episodes through regular home administration of clotting factors.
  • Hematology researchers identified the gene that causes grey platelet syndrome, a discovery that will now be used to set the foundation of care for newly diagnosed patients.
Portrait of Dr. Terry Fry, a man in a collared shirt and glasses.
"Treatment for autoimmune diseases involves manipulating the same cells we're manipulating for cancer treatment."
Terry J. Fry, MD

Oncology and hematology professional education videos

In these short videos, our pediatric cancer experts offer insights into the advanced treatments and specialized clinical care they provide at our hospital.

What our cancer and blood disorder research means for kids

Physicians at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders have a variety of interests in clinical, translational and laboratory research. Our major focus areas include:

  • Clinical trials for children with all types of cancer
  • New cancer therapies
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Hemophilia and clotting disorders
  • Redirecting the immune system
  • Different modes of bone marrow transplantation

Our translational and basic laboratory research includes:

  • Pediatric leukemia and neuro-oncology biology and genetics
  • New molecularly targeted therapies for various types of cancer
  • Genetic studies of von Willebrand disease
  • Immunotherapy with T cells and NK cells

Our faculty collaborates with international consortiums, laboratory researchers and the University of Colorado Cancer Center to find new cures and better cancer treatments for children.

We also participate in every major pediatric cooperative group for cancer and blood disorders, including:

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