Histiocytosis

Research

Tremendous advances have been made in the treatment of childhood cancer. Thirty years ago, leukemia was a disease that was universally fatal for children. Today, it is one with an 85 percent survival rate. Research into new drugs for the treatment of cancer in children at UCSF Children's Hospital is conducted through the Pediatric Clinical Research Center, one of six state-of the-art units for children in the United States funded by the National Institutes of Health. We have an active research program that tests new therapies in a range of pediatric cancers.

It is important to understand the long-term health effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation in the areas of reproduction, learning, socialization and common adult diseases, such as stroke and heart failure. We are participating in a national study to closely monitor the health of a group of 20,000 survivors of childhood cancer to answer these important questions.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007