(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – May 31, 2022) Professionals from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will share original research and expertise at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. The meeting will be held June 4–8, at McCormick Place in Chicago and include online lectures.
ASCO is the premier professional society for clinical oncology, representing nearly 45,000 individuals dedicated to cancer care.
2022 ASCO Pediatric Oncology Award
Amar Gajjar, M.D., Department of Pediatric Medicine and Department of Oncology chair, will receive the 2022 ASCO Pediatric Oncology Award. Gajjar has been honored with this year’s award for his work leading clinical trials developing novel treatments for pediatric brain tumors. He will accept the award in person and have a pre-recorded lecture available on-demand, online. He is the seventh investigator from St. Jude to receive the honor. The award presentation is 9:30 a.m. CST, Saturday, June 4 in N Hall B1.
A new approach to neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a rare pediatric cancer that develops in neuroblasts, cells which develop into nerve cells. High-risk neuroblastoma has a survival rate of about 50%. In a pilot study, St. Jude researchers worked with the clinical trials organization Children’s Oncology Group. Together, they found that adding the chemoimmunotherapy dinutuximab to the treatment of pediatric patients with recurrent or refractory neuroblastoma produced a response rate of 86.8%.
Sara Federico, M.D., St. Jude Department of Oncology, will present the results in her talk “A Pilot Induction Regimen Incorporating Dinutuximab and Sargramostim for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed High-risk Neuroblastoma: A Report from the Children’s Oncology Group.” Federico’s talk complements other research about disparities in high-risk neuroblastoma survival that is being presented at the meeting. Federico’s talk is 3:36 p.m. CST, Monday, June 6, in room S406, as part of the Pediatric Oncology session.
Source: St. Jude research highlighted at annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology