Research on children's cancers
Cancer in childhood is rare - it affects about 1 in 500 children under the age of 15. Each year, around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK and the disease claims around 300 lives.
Children tend to develop different types of cancer to adults. Leukaemia is the most common form of childhood cancer, accounting for about a third of all cases.
Due to major advances in treatment, around three-quarters of children with cancer are now successfully treated. But Cancer Research UK is committed to improving survival and quality of life for all children with cancer.
Our scientists are working to understand more about the causes of childhood cancers and develop new treatments. We also support the clinical trials work of the internationally renowned Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), which coordinates the care of virtually all children with cancer in the UK.
Below are some highlights of our research into children’s cancers.
Or find out more on our children's cancer briefsheet (PDF download, 100kb)
Biomarkers
Dr Janet Shipley
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Studying faulty genes in childhood cancer
Dr Janet Shipley leads the Molecular Cytogenetics Team at The Institute of Cancer Research. She is investigating how faulty genes lead to the development of a type of childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Some forms of this disease are very difficult to treat, so new approaches are urgently needed. Dr Shipley's research is revealing new targets for the development of drugs to improve the outcome for children with rhabdomyosarcoma.
Cancer genes
Prof Kathy Pritchard-Jones
Department of Paediatric Oncology
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Investigating the genetics of children's cancer
Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones is one of the UK's foremost experts in childhood cancer. She and her team of dedicated scientists and clinicians are carrying out research at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton. Their aim is to identify genetic faults that can lead to certain childhood cancers. This could help predict how well a child could respond to treatment, whether the cancer will return and how long a child will survive.
Dr Stefan Meyer
Department of Paediatric Oncology
Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester
Learning more about childhood cancers
Dr Stefan Meyer is a leading childhood cancer specialist at Manchester Children's Hospital and the Christie Hospital NHS Trust. His research focuses on a group of genes, known as the Fanconi Anaemia (FA) genes, some of which are faulty in cancer. Dr Meyer is studying these genes in childhood cancers including leukaemias and brain tumours to find out how they cause cancer cells to grow out of control. This knowledge could lead to ways to improve treatments for a range of childhood cancers.
Prof Nazneen Rahman
Section of Cancer Genetics
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Searching for genes in breast and childhood cancers
Professor Nazneen Rahman is Professor of Human Genetics and Section Chair of Cancer Genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research. She leads two research teams who are making excellent progress identifying genes associated with an increased risk of breast and childhood cancers.
Dr Janet Shipley
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Studying faulty genes in childhood cancer
Dr Janet Shipley leads the Molecular Cytogenetics Team at The Institute of Cancer Research. She is investigating how faulty genes lead to the development of a type of childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Some forms of this disease are very difficult to treat, so new approaches are urgently needed. Dr Shipley's research is revealing new targets for the development of drugs to improve the outcome for children with rhabdomyosarcoma.
Causes of cancer
Prof Jillian Birch
Cancer Research UK Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester
Looking for the causes of childhood cancer
Professor Jillian Birch is Director of the Cancer Research UK Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group at the University of Manchester. Using information from the Manchester Children's Tumour Registry, she is trying to identify possible causes of childhood cancers.
Clinical trials
Prof Vaskar Saha
Children's Cancer Group
University of Manchester, Manchester
Improving the treatment of childhood leukaemia
Professor Vaskar Saha is Head of the Children's Cancer Group at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of leukaemia in children. In the lab, he is investigating ways to predict how well individual children will respond to treatment. He is also coordinating European-wide clinical trials to improve the treatments available for patients with ALL.
Prof David Walker
School of Human Development
University of Nottingham, Nottingham
Testing treatments for childhood brain cancer
Professor David Walker heads a team at the University of Nottingham. The group is investigating the best way to treat certain childhood cancers known as low-grade gliomas (LGGs).
Patient care research
Prof Mike Hawkins
Centre for Childhood Cancer Survivor Studies
The University of Birmingham, Birmingham
Investigating the long-term effects of childhood cancer treatments
Professor Mike Hawkins directs the Centre for Childhood Cancer Survivor Studies at the University of Birmingham. His team monitor people who have, in the past, received treatment for childhood cancers. There are over 26,000 of these childhood cancer survivors alive in the UK today.
Viruses
Dr Robert Newton
Epidemiology and Genetics Unit, Department of Health Sciences
University of York, York
Investigating the role of viruses in cancer
Dr Newton's research focuses on how infections, in particular by viruses, play a role in cancer development. It is estimated that one in five cancers are caused by infections - for example skin cancer and cervical cancer can be caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) .
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