Childhood and Adolescent Cancer
(sarcomas, brain tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and other cancers of childhood)
Pediatric, or childhood, cancers are mostly those of the white blood cells (leukemias), brain, bone, lymphatic system, muscles, kidneys and nervous system. Each of these behaves differently, but all are characterized by an uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells. The causes of most childhood cancers are not known.
Children with cancer are rarely treated by family physicians or pediatricians. In partnership with the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview, the interdisciplinary teams at the Masonic Cancer Clinic are uniquely devoted to cancers that impact children. These teams develop and deliver new approaches and research treatment, prevention, long-term survival, and support. Many of the therapies that are now part of national treatment standards for children with cancer were developed by University of Minnesota Physicians.
For more than 70 years, the University of Minnesota has been a leader in the areas of childhood cancers, including cancer research, patient care, and education. Some highlights include:
- Led research that contributed to the increase in survival rates for childhood cancer from about 10 percent in 1959 to better than 80 percent today.
- Performing the world's first successful transplant for immune deficiency and lymphoma. The Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program continues to be a leader in improving transplantation and developing new applications.
- Rapidly applying the latest research to the treatment of children with cancer. This includes the use of new agents, targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and other new surgical and radiotherapy techniques.
- Identifying and reducing the long-term effects of childhood cancer.
Long-Term Follow-Up
Our physicians are specialists in the treatment of childhood cancer and the long-term effects of this treatment. Our Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic provides life-long health care to survivors of childhood and young adult cancers. Long-term follow-up care includes screening for delayed complications of therapy, education about possible long-term effects, and monitoring of health care needs based on risk factors associated with prior cancer treatment.
Pediatric Cancer Care Team
Michael Burke, MD - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Edward Cheng, MD - Orthopaedic Surgeon
Denis Clohisy, MD - Orthopaedic Surgeon
Kathryn Dusenbery, MD - Radiation Oncologist
Stephen Haines, MD FACS - Pediatric Neurosurgeon
Susan Kearney, MD - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Ashish Kumar, MD, PhD - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Cornelius Lam, MD - Pediatric Neurosurgeon
Bradley Miller, MD, PhD - Pediatric Endocrinologist
Christopher Moertel, MD - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Daniel Mulrooney, MD, MS - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Joseph Neglia, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Marie Steiner, MD - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist, Pediatric Critical Care
Brenda Weigel, MD - Pediatric Hematologist - Oncologist
Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
Bone and soft tissue tumors are not uncommon in children. These tumors can originate in the bones and surrounding tissue or migrate there from elsewhere in the body.
The Masonic Cancer Clinic's orthopaedic surgeons are highly specialized in treating bone and soft tissue tumors. In fact, they have pioneered "limb salvage" surgical procedures, greatly decreasing the need for amputations. Also, the pediatric oncology department participates in national clinical trials for aggressive treatment of newly diagnosed tumors and has joined with the National Cancer Institute in innovative therapies for relapsed and high-risk tumor patients.
Learn more about pediatric bone and soft tissue tumors
Brain Tumors
Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor in children. At the University of Minnesota we have a multidisciplinary program in place that specializes in the care of children with brain tumors. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Program uses the expertise of pediatric physicians in the areas of neurosurgery, oncology, radiation therapy, neurology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, radiology, and neuropsychology. Other specialties may also be involved if necessary. The multidisciplinary program is designed to provide each patient and family with the most advanced and comprehensive care available in a caring and timely manner.
Learn more about pediatric brain tumors
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Leukemia — or cancer of the blood — is the most common childhood cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 2,700 children are diagnosed with leukemia in the United States each year. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also known as ALL, is the most common form of leukemia that occurs in children. It is characterized by the presence of too many immature white blood cells in the child's blood and bone marrow. While ALL can occur in adults too, treatment is different for children.
Learn more about acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Also called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia, AML is primarily a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph nodes. Though it can affect both children and adults, the treatment differs between the two groups. In children, AML is the second most common form of leukemia — acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common.
Learn more about acute myelogenous leukemia
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, or Hodgkin's disease, as it is also called, is one of the many kinds of cancer of the lymphatic system that can affect children and adults. Hodgkin's disease is one of the most "curable" childhood cancers but must be treated by a team of specialists who can both cure the disease and reduce the long term effects of that therapy.
Learn more about pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a family of tumors that originates in the lymph system. The lymph system is a vast network of thin tubes that branch — like blood vessels — throughout the body. These tubes carry a colorless fluid called lymph, which is made up of disease-fighting white blood cells that are an essential part of the body's immune system. These lymph vessels are connected to bean-shaped organs called nymph nodes which are found through the body — pelvis, armpit, neck, and abdomen. These structures store and produce white blood cells. Because lymph tissue is found throughout the body, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can start almost anywhere — and spread to almost any organ, including the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can affect both children and adults. The majority of children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are cured. Therapies are aggressive, and are tailored to the type of lymphoma and the stage of the disease. A child's chances for a good recovery depend on his or her age and general health, the cell-type involved, and how quickly the cancer cells reproduce.
Learn more about Pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nerve tissues that is most often found in children under 5 years old. In 70 percent of cases, neuroblastoma starts in the adrenal gland, located in the abdomen. Other growth sites it favors in the early stages are nerve tissue of the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and near the spine. By the time it is diagnosed, it has usually spread (metastasized) to the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones, or bone marrow. Neuroblastoma is sometimes present at birth, but not detected. In rare cases, however, it can be identified before birth by ultrasound testing of the fetus.
Learn more about neuroblastoma
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is cancer of the thin layer of nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye. This layer is called the retina, which is the light-sensitive portion of the eye that forms images. Retinoblastoma may affect one eye (unilateral), both eyes (bilateral), and in very rare cases, the brain (trilateral). Most often it is found in children under 5 years old. Retinoblastoma does not usually spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. When treated by a team of pediatric oncologists and opthalmologists, 95 percent of the cases can be treated and vision may be spared.
Learn more about retinoblastoma
Wilms Tumor
If a child has cancer of the kidney it is most likely Wilms tumor — it accounts for 95 percent of kidney cancers, in children under the age of 14. Also called nephroblastoma, Wilms tumor is a mass of cancer cells that grows in kidney tissue. The kidneys filter and clean the blood, and produce urine. Though there is a pair of kidneys — they are fixed to the back wall of the abdominal cavity, with one on each side of the backbone — in most cases of Wilms tumor, only one kidney is affected. This is a disease primarily of young children. At the time of diagnosis most Wilms tumor patients are less than 5 years old.
Learn more about Wilms tumor
