With more children surviving, though, it has become increasingly clear that cancer and the subsequent treatments, such as chemo or radiation therapy, can have long-term negative effects that extend beyond physical problems such as hair loss, pain, and physical disability. Read more: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/understanding-the-psychological-effects-of-childhood-cancer1/

Zika virus, long feared for its severe effects on pregnant mothers and unborn babies, may hold potential as a cancer treatment for neuroblastoma, a rare- but-deadly childhood cancer, according to early findings from basic research. Read more: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/n-zvs072418.php

In childhood cancer survivors, treatment with growth hormone was associated with gains in height vs. untreated control patients without increased risk for diabetes or secondary tumors, according to a meta-analysis published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Read more: https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/hormone-therapy/news/in-the-journals/%7B117d22b3-0763-4c1b-8591-028e820ac433%7D/in-childhood-cancer-survivors-gh-therapy-improves-height-without-secondar

Childhood cancer survivors who underwent radiation therapy should be screened regularly for growth disorders, pituitary hormone deficiencies and early puberty, according to a new clinical practice guideline issued by the Endocrine Society. Read more: https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/practice-management/news/in-the-journals/%7B4f0d73d8-e934-4c30-9d3c-d9fee447f79d%7D/new-endocrine-society-guideline-stresses-regular-screenings-for-childhood-cancer-survivors

A new study [...] has identified a marker CD271 on the surface of the "brain tumour stem cells" that could be used as a novel diagnostic tool for Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma tumours, one variant of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant primary pediatric brain tumour. Read more: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-07-brain-tumour-cells-marker.html

Pre-clinical data has confirmed Noxopharm’s (ASX: NOX) experimental idronoxil anti-cancer drug can boost the killing effect of radiation when treating paediatric brain cancer cells. Read more: https://smallcaps.com.au/pre-clinical-data-noxopharm-drug-radiation-paediatric-brain-cancer/

A viral immunotherapy using a herpes virus to treat brain tumors has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in a pediatric study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama. Read more: http://www.newswise.com/articles/viral-immunotherapy-for-brain-tumors-in-children-shows-promise

Using a new computational strategy, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified 29 genetic changes that can contribute to rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. Read more: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-07-tools-childhood-cancer-genes.html

The Endocrine Society issued a Clinical Practice Guideline advising healthcare providers on how to diagnose and treat the endocrine disorders that affect a significant portion of childhood cancer survivors in the United States today. Read more: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/tes-uth062618.php#

Scientists have discovered that cancerous cells in an aggressive type of childhood brain tumour work together to infiltrate the brain, and this finding could ultimately lead to much needed new treatments, according to a new study published in Nature Medicine. Read more: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/2018-07-02-teamwork-between-cells-fuels-aggressive-childhood-brain-tumour