Drug Protects Kidneys After Transplant
A new drug — a co-stimulatory blocker called belatacept (LEA29Y) that selectively blocks immune responses — has proved as effective in preventing acute kidney transplant rejection as cyclosporine, the standard anti-rejection treatment.

UCSF Launches Intestinal Rehab Program
A new Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Program treats children and adults with intestinal failure.

Children's Cancer Surgery

UCSF offers expert surgical care for young cancer patients who require tumor resection. UCSF Children's Hospital is one of only two pediatric cancer centers in the country equipped to provide intraoperative radiotherapy during surgery for unresectable areas of tumor. This is particularly useful in treating neuroblastoma, a specialty at UCSF Children's Hospital.

Intraoperative radiotherapy allows surgeons to precisely target radiation to the tumor, limiting damage to surrounding tissues.

The pediatric surgical team is also known for special expertise in treating germ cell tumors. Multi-modal treatment allows physicians to preserve normal structure and function of the testes and ovaries.

UCSF is a national referral center for treating Wilm's tumor. Only 500 cases of this rare kidney tumor occur in the United States each year. At UCSF, Wilm's tumor patients are treated with the most advanced surgery and chemotherapy protocols.

Chest wall tumors such as Ewing's sarcoma, lung cancers such as metastatic osteosarcoma, and abdominal, pelvic and head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma also are treated surgically in the Children's Cancer and Blood Disease Program by pediatric cancer surgeons — all active members of the National Children's Oncology Group.

Consultations and Referrals

For information about the Children's Cancer and Blood Disease Program at UCSF Children's Hospital, call (415) 476-3831.

Fall 2005 Table of Contents

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