Retinoblastoma

Many children with cancer experience emotional distress, fatigue, and difficulties in relationships. Their parents also face increased responsibilities and may feel more distressed and tired. While psychological interventions for these families have shown promise in improving social skills, coping, and well-being, further research is needed. Hypnosis is commonly used in pediatric oncology to reduce pain and distress during procedures and has also been effective in enhancing well-being in adults with cancer. This trial explores the feasibility and potential benefits of combining self-care and hypnosis in a group setting for children with cancer and their parents. The intervention involves six monthly group sessions, each lasting two hours, where participants learn self-hypnosis exercises and discuss self-care techniques like understanding personal needs, self-respect, assertiveness, and managing negative thoughts. Homework assignments are given to encourage positive changes. Two groups participate: one including children with cancer and their siblings, and another for their parents. Data are collected before and after the intervention through questionnaires and interviews to assess its impact. Participants will complete assessments measuring changes in children's quality of life, fatigue related to cancer, and parents' perceptions of their child's quality of life and their own fatigue. Secondary outcomes include the impact of cancer on the family, parents' emotional distress, and coping strategies. These are evaluated before the program starts and immediately after its conclusion at six months. The study aims to improve understanding of how this combined self-care and hypnosis intervention may enhance the well-being of children with cancer and their families.

Sleep plays a vital role in a child's development, affecting brain function, emotional health, and overall recovery. Children undergoing intensive cancer treatments often experience sleep problems such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, shorter sleep duration, or poor sleep quality. These issues, reported in a significant portion of pediatric cancer survivors, can impact treatment adherence, daily life, and social interactions, highlighting the need for better sleep management in this group. Researchers are evaluating the Dreamcatchers Programme, a nurse-led, multi-component intervention designed to improve sleep quality in children with cancer. The program involves sleep hygiene education, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and breathing exercises, delivered through group sessions and weekly follow-ups over four weeks. The intervention group receives these targeted strategies, while the control group continues routine hospital support without sleep-specific content, with access to the program after the study. Participants will attend initial education sessions, practice relaxation techniques, and keep sleep diaries to track habits and progress. Nurses will monitor sleep quality and overall life quality at three months using validated tools. Data will be collected securely and confidentiality maintained. This pilot study aims to assess feasibility and provide preliminary effectiveness results to guide future pediatric oncology sleep care.

Researchers are evaluating the use of the drug SGT-53 in combination with radiation therapy and the drug Nivolumab in children with brain tumors that have returned, worsened, or not improved after previous treatments. This early-phase clinical trial aims to find the right dose of SGT-53 that can be safely given alongside radiation and Nivolumab. The study also investigates the side effects of SGT-53, how the drug moves through the body, and how much of it reaches the tumor tissue in a small group of patients. During the first treatment cycle, participants receive SGT-53 twice a week, Nivolumab every two weeks, and radiation therapy during the second week. In cycles two through six, SGT-53 is given once a week during even cycles and twice a week during odd cycles, while Nivolumab continues every two weeks. From cycle seven onward, both SGT-53 and Nivolumab are given every two weeks. In a special early part of the study, four participants will have genetic testing on tumor samples after receiving SGT-53 to compare with skin samples. Participants will be closely monitored throughout the study with evaluations of side effects related to SGT-53 from enrollment to three years after treatment ends. Researchers will assess the drug's safety, how it is processed in the body, and its presence in tumor tissue. The study includes clinical and radiological assessments, genetic testing, and ongoing safety monitoring to understand the treatment's effects over time.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of CBA-1205, an anti-DLK1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and certain pediatric cancers. This first-in-human, Phase I, multi-center, non-randomized, open-label study is designed in five parts to assess these outcomes in different patient groups, especially those who have no standard treatment options or are intolerant or non-responsive to existing therapies. The study treatment involves intravenous administration of CBA-1205 at varying doses depending on the study part. In Part 1, doses from 0.1 to 30 mg/kg are given every two weeks in 28-day cycles to patients with solid tumors. Parts 2 through 5 administer doses ranging from 10 to 30 mg/kg every two weeks in similar 28-day cycles to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and pediatric cancers, continuing until criteria for treatment discontinuation are met. Participants will undergo safety and tolerability evaluations, including monitoring for dose-limiting toxicity during the first 28 days and adverse events up to 12 months. Pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity analyses will be conducted from Day 1 to Day 43 or until treatment discontinuation. Efficacy will be assessed at screening and regular intervals during treatment. The study includes detailed laboratory tests and performance status assessments, with the total participation duration varying by individual response and treatment continuation.

Researchers are evaluating the SYSUCC-RMS regimen for children with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of pediatric cancer. This study aims to understand how effective and safe this treatment is, while also exploring how combining radiotherapy with chemotherapy affects survival rates across different risk groups: low, medium, high, and very high risk. The study is a Phase 3 clinical trial led by Yizhuo Zhang. Participants receive one of several combination chemotherapy regimens based on their risk level: low risk patients receive VAC, intermediate risk patients receive VAC/VII, high risk patients receive CAV/IE, and very high risk patients receive CAV/VIP. The study follows a single-arm design and evaluates the treatments over various risk groups, focusing on the impact of concurrent therapies on survival. During the study, researchers will monitor participants for up to 10 years, assessing outcomes such as objective response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Safety of the SYSUCC-RMS regimen will also be tracked throughout this period. Participants’ health status will be regularly evaluated to understand the long-term effects and treatment outcomes.

Researchers are studying retinoblastoma (RB), a cancer of the retina, focusing on cases with vitreous seeds, which are tumors in the eye's jelly-like fluid and increase treatment difficulty and risk. This phase II trial aims to evaluate the safety and side effects of adding melphalan, injected directly into the eye, to standard chemotherapy. The trial also explores the effectiveness and long-term visual outcomes of this combined treatment approach for Group D retinoblastoma with vitreous seeding. Participants receive systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin, vincristine, and etoposide over cycles lasting 28 days each. During the first two cycles, patients undergo imaging and urine sample collection without melphalan injections. From cycle 3 onwards, eligibility for melphalan injections is assessed before each cycle, and eligible patients receive one injection of melphalan into the eye per cycle, for up to six injections. Imaging, tissue sampling, and magnetic resonance imaging are conducted throughout the trial. Participants are monitored with eye imaging under anesthesia, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and blood and urine tests at regular intervals during treatment. After treatment, follow-ups occur at 4 weeks, then every 3 months for one year, and every 3 to 6 months for up to five years. Researchers measure the success of melphalan administration combined with chemotherapy, track serious side effects, and evaluate long-term event-free survival and visual outcomes.

Researchers are studying children aged 5 to 18 years who have solid cancer or blood-related cancers to understand how intense physical activities or stretching affect insulin sensitivity and other metabolic, motor, and nutritional factors. The study aims to observe whether intense physical activity improves these health measures compared to a stretching program. Children are included at the start of their cancer treatment, with a focus on their first treatment experience and a life expectancy exceeding six months. The study involves two different physical activity programs lasting six months: one intense adapted physical activity combining aerobics and muscle strengthening, and another stretching program. Children participate in sessions two to three times a week, either during hospital stays or via videoconference at home. The intense activity sessions last 30 minutes for younger children and 60 minutes for older children. Evaluations occur at the beginning, at three and six months during the program, and follow-ups are done six and eighteen months after the programs end. Participants will undergo metabolic, motor, and nutritional assessments at scheduled time points throughout the study and after completion. The research team will monitor insulin sensitivity as the main outcome. Children receive personalized physical activity sessions adapted to their abilities and preferences. The overall participation lasts up to about two years, including initial treatment and follow-up evaluations to track the long-term effects of the physical activity programs.

Researchers are evaluating the effect of three cycles of chemotherapy (vincristine, carboplatin, and etoposide) in patients with Stage I retinoblastoma who have had an eye removed (enucleation). This phase 3 open-label study focuses on high-risk postenucleation retinoblastoma and aims to determine disease-free survival over five years. Participants will receive three cycles of chemotherapy once a month for three months. The chemotherapy doses are vincristine 1.5 mg/m2, carboplatin 560 mg/m2, and etoposide 150 mg/m2. After completing treatment, patients will be followed for 60 months to monitor their health and response to the therapy. During the study, participants will be assessed regularly to track disease status and treatment effects. The main outcome measured is disease-free survival at five years. Participants will be monitored throughout the study period to evaluate the long-term effects of the chemotherapy treatment and overall health status.

This research aims to understand how follow-up care is managed for survivors of childhood cancer in Switzerland as they move from pediatric to adult healthcare. It focuses on adolescent and young adult survivors who have completed cancer treatment and are living with potential late effects. The study compares three different transition models to find out which best meets survivors' needs and helps maintain regular follow-up care. Participants are part of a multicenter study involving three pediatric oncology centers in Switzerland. Survivors receive questionnaires about their cancer knowledge, worries, self-management skills, ongoing care, and expectations related to their follow-up care. Questionnaires are sent before and after their transition to adult care, with follow-ups at three and fifteen months to track changes over time. During the study, participants complete several questionnaires assessing their readiness for transition and knowledge about their cancer history. The study measures cancer worry, self-management, ongoing care needs, and expectations at baseline, three months, and fifteen months. Data helps improve transition strategies, aiming for better adherence to adult follow-up care. The total participation time covers these assessments over more than a year, supporting long-term survivor care.

Researchers are studying how Antimüllerian Hormone (AMH) levels can predict the risk of future infertility in girls aged 3 to 14 who are undergoing cancer treatment or treatment for benign diseases. The goal is to identify young patients who may have a reduced ovarian reserve after treatment and could benefit from special follow-up or fertility preservation. The study includes children at high, moderate/low, or no risk of ovarian damage from chemotherapy or pelvic irradiation. The study observes AMH and other hormone levels before and after treatment, with no interventions applied. Participants are grouped by their risk level: high risk patients receiving conditioning therapy or pelvic irradiation; moderate/low risk patients treated with chemotherapy regimens for various cancers; and a control group with no risk, consisting of patients with benign diseases or cancers not requiring gonadotoxic treatment. Assessments occur at diagnosis, treatment end, and during follow-up visits scheduled yearly for three years, then every two years until age 18. Participants will have their ovarian reserve evaluated through hormone tests including AMH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, and LH, alongside menstrual cycle tracking and pubertal development assessed annually using Tanner staging and bone age X-rays. The primary outcome is the AMH marker measured regularly up to 18 years old. Secondary outcomes include premature ovarian failure and ovarian reserve changes. The study also monitors oncological outcomes as per standard care, with a total follow-up duration extending to 18 years old.