Research for the Future of Children with Cancer

Children with cancer deserve the best possible treatment. What exactly does that mean? Researchers have now defined objective quality criteria. This supports professionals as well as families of children with cancer, says pediatric oncology specialist Katrin Scheinemann, who led the project.

To develop the criteria, the research team first systematically reviewed the scientific literature. They identified around 200 existing quality criteria and consolidated them into 90 overarching criteria. The researchers then surveyed pediatric oncology representatives from 32 countries with healthcare systems comparable to Switzerland’s. Their responses provided further insights and led to the addition of five criteria.

In a final step, healthcare professionals and parents of children with cancer assessed how relevant the different criteria were. Including families with lived experience was particularly important, as their priorities sometimes differed from those of medical specialists.

Healthcare professionals often focused on treatment-related measures, such as preventing infections or ensuring that children with fever receive antibiotics as quickly as possible. Parents, meanwhile, emphasized aspects that strongly affect their everyday experience. For example, they valued being able to contact the pediatric oncology unit directly in an emergency instead of first going through the general emergency department.

Families also considered psycho-oncological counseling, social services and nutritional advice to be important. These findings show that high-quality cancer care extends beyond medical treatment. It requires close collaboration between a broad team supporting the child, their parents and their siblings.

All nine childhood cancer centers in Switzerland already provide care at a high standard. Clearly defined and transparent criteria can nevertheless help them assess and further improve their services. They also provide reassurance to families that their child is receiving the best possible care.

The research team is now testing how the criteria can be recorded in everyday clinical practice at the Ostschweizer Kinderspital in St. Gallen. The aim is to develop a practical tool that supports quality improvement without creating unnecessary administrative work.

Your donations are making a lasting impact. Discover how Katrin Scheinemann and her research team are helping to define what the best possible care for children with cancer should look like, thanks to the support of generous donors like you.

Sarcomas are rare but aggressive cancers that arise in supportive and connective tissues such as muscles, bones, fat, or tendons. “You can think of this tissue as the body’s framework,” explains Dr. Melita Irving. “When cells within this framework begin to divide uncontrollably, sarcomas develop." While rare in adults, sarcomas account for approximately 20 percent of all solid malignant tumors in children. Sarcomas are frequently caused by sudden genetic alterations known as gene fusions. “Children are particularly vulnerable because their cells divide rapidly during growth,” explains Dr. Antonia Digklia. “This increases the likelihood of such genetic errors.”

Current treatment options—including chemotherapy and targeted drugs—are often insufficient. “Many children experience relapses, and the side effects of treatment can be severe,” says Dr. Melita Irving. Even modern immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, have so far benefited only a small proportion of patients with sarcomas.

At the Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) in Lausanne, the two scientists are focusing on advancing adoptive cell therapy. In this approach, the body’s own immune cells—known as T cells—are genetically modified to recognize and specifically destroy cancer cells. “We are developing specialized receptors that guide T cells directly to sarcoma cells,” explains clinical researcher Digklia. In addition, the T cells are engineered to remain active for longer periods and to function safely within the challenging tumor environment. “Our goal is a therapy that is powerful enough to defeat the cancer, yet gentle enough to allow children to live normal lives.”

The greatest challenge lies in balancing effectiveness and safety. Nevertheless, the potential is significant. “We hope that our research will pave the way for new, effective immunotherapies—not only for sarcomas, but also for other rare solid tumors,” the researchers say with confidence.

Your donations are making a lasting impact. Discover how Dr. Irving and her research team are finding a a new path of hope for children with sarcomas, thanks to the support of generous donors like you.