CURES FOR CANCER ARE FOUND IN THE

RESEARCH

HatsOff2Kidz Leukemia

HATS OFF 2 KIDZ2018 IMPACT REPORT

LEUKEMIA is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in children in Canada. Last year alone, there were 139 new diagnoses of leukemia and lymphoma at SickKids. Although many children with leukemia will respond well to treatment, for those who relapse, their chances of survival are much lower. But, advances in the understanding of the genetics and mechanisms of leukemia have opened new and exciting avenues in diagnosing, treating and managing the disease. These innovate breakthroughs are being supported by generous donors like Hats Off 2 Kidz. Your inspiring contribution to leukemia research at SickKids is helping children survive, thrive, and stay healthy so that they can live the full lives they deserve.

THE BODY’S OWN DEFENSES The war on diseases like cancer may be won by activating a patient’s own immune system. This discovery led to the development of a rapidly growing field called immunotherapy. The first wave of successful immune-based treatment for cancers like leukemia is CAR-T cell therapy, which bolsters a cancer patient’s immune system and has led to long remissions and potential cures with fewer side effects. T cells (white blood cells) are removed from a patient’s bloodstream, genetically engineered to target leukemia cells, and reintroduced to the patient. The Garron Family Cancer Centre at SickKids is one of only two medical centres in Canada and the biggest referral site in the country offering CAR-T cell therapy.

Now, SickKids is working to use these treatments more intelligently. “We are learning more about T cells now then we’ve ever known before—how they thrive, when they tire, and how to best use them to treat our patients,” says Dr. Donna Wall, Garron Family/Hats Off 2 Kidz Chair in Paediatric Leukemia Research at SickKids.

THANK YOUFor the ongoing commitment of Hats Off 2 Kidz to leukemia

research, and for the support of the Garron Family/Hats Off 2 Kidz Chair in Peadiatric Leukemia at SickKids.

SAFER, GENTLER BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTSThe Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at SickKids performs half the paediatric transplants in Canada and is one of the largest free-standing pediatric programs in the world. This past year, SickKids performed 110 BMTs, a 28 per cent increase compared with the previous year. In the past year, SickKids has been using partially matched or half-matched parent or sibling donors instead of a donor with the same exact immune fingerprint. It’s called haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and it’s been a game changer”, says Dr. Wall.

Within a few days after most transplants there’s a rapid growth and expansion of the immune cells that recognize the patient as foreign and cause Graft-versus-host disease. While a small dose of this is necessary (it has an anti-leukemic effect), too much can be fatal. To combat this, SickKids is making BMTs safer and more efficacious through a process that eliminates the “bad” cells from the graft, leaving behind the “good” and protective ones.

SickKids researchers are also looking into why children with severe inflammation before transplants have a higher risk of an unusual form of graft rejection. They’re studying the effect of immune hormones on the very youngest blood-making cells, which are quiescent, and might therefore be able to avoid and survive the chemotherapy meant to kill them. This discovery could lead to what Dr. Wall calls a “smarter transplant”. A gentler and more effective journey for our young, sick patients.

SickKids continues to make great strides in the race to cure leukemia through research. None of this would be possible without the steadfast support of Hats Off 2 Kidz. Thank you.

IMPACT REPORT | HATS OFF 2 KIDZ