A $1 million donation to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation will enable the hematology-oncology clinical research unit to significantly expand its capacity, aiming to double the number of pediatric cancer clinical trials available to patients by 2027. This expansion is crucial for children with rare, aggressive, and difficult-to-cure cancers, where clinical trials often represent their only chance at survival.
Dr. Catherine Vézina, director of the hematology-oncology division at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “For far too many children with cancer, clinical trials are their only chance at survival. By opening more clinical trials, we provide our young patients with better access to experimental treatments that could improve survival rates and reduce the harsh side effects of current treatments. These trials embody our commitment to improving outcomes and setting new standards in pediatric cancer care.”
Addressing Unmet Needs in Pediatric Oncology
While 85% of children in Quebec survive a cancer diagnosis, the remaining 15% face significant challenges, particularly those with rare and aggressive cancers. Current clinical trials often focus on targeted drugs for specific genetic mutations, limiting the number of eligible children. The expansion aims to address this gap by opening more trials and improving access to novel therapies.
Nicole Sidhu, clinical trials manager in the hospital’s hematology-oncology clinical research unit, noted the complexities involved in opening a new trial, which can take up to 12 months. The generous donation from Fuel Transport will expedite this process, potentially saving more lives. Sidhu also highlighted that only 7% of cancer research funding is devoted to pediatrics, despite children representing 16% of new cancer diagnoses.
Impact of the Donation
The immediate impact of the donation includes the hiring of an experienced research nurse as a clinical research unit team mentor and the addition of research pharmacy support. These resources will enhance the management of drugs for each clinical trial and provide safety monitoring and education to staff and patients on drug administration.
Future Directions and Goals
One of the key goals is to increase the number of clinical trials from the current 54 to over 100 within five years, with a particular focus on rare cancers and blood disorders. The hospital also aims to improve access to research and clinical trial options for adolescents and young adults with cancer, a population often overlooked. Furthermore, there is a concerted effort to attract trial sponsors from the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that children with cancer have access to the latest advancements in treatment.
Dr. Vézina highlighted the importance of immunotherapy, genetic therapy, and targeted molecular therapy, stating that “clinical trials are the key to success” in advancing these innovative approaches. The ultimate aim is to develop treatments with fewer long-term side effects, as more than 60% of children treated for cancer experience such effects.
