Clinical Trials & Research for Pediatric Cancer
Benefit from your child’s participation in pediatric cancer clinical trials through University Health, the only academic health system in San Antonio.
What Is a Cancer Clinical Trial?
Cancer clinical trials help researchers develop better treatments and advance childhood cancer care and delivery. Our participation in cancer research offers your child, adolescent or young adult hope and access to new treatments before they are widely available to others.
Access to High-Profile Clinical Trials
When you work with our expert cancer doctors, your child has expanded clinical trial options. In addition to studies at University Health, you can take advantage of our connection to leading groups with clinical trials for children.
These groups focus on understanding pediatric cancer, developing new treatments and improving outcomes. They include:
- Children Oncology Group (COG)
- Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’ Consortium (POETIC)
- National Cancer Institute Community Oncology
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute
Collaborations in cancer research with these groups help find more effective treatments for kids.
Clinical Trials Steps
Understanding the study process can make you and your child feel better.
The steps in a clinical trial include:
- Consultation – Discuss clinical trial options for your child, adolescent or young adult
- Eligibility – Make sure your child meets the study criteria
- Consent – Fill out a form giving consent for your child to take part
- Treatment – Receive treatments at the study location (hospital, clinic, etc.), testing and follow-up care if necessary
Deciding to Enroll in a Pediatric Clinical Trial
Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary. Know that the cancer care team will choose the clinical trial that is best for your child. Before enrolling, you may want to ask your child’s doctor questions or voice concerns. We want you to feel comfortable with your decision. You can withdraw your child from a study at any time.
Participant Safety
Safety and effectiveness for your child are very important to us. View our Protection for Research Participants page to learn more about how we safeguard patients.
Explaining Clinical Trials to Your Child
Consider talking to your child in age-appropriate language about clinical trials. Ask your cancer social worker for help if needed.
Finding Clinical Trials
Talk to your cancer care team at University Health about available clinical trials.
Search the National Cancer Institute’s clinical trials database for NCI-sponsored clinical trials.
The COG is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to pediatric cancer research. As required by the COG, STPBCC involves multidisciplinary teams consisting of physicians, research scientists, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists and other specialists who use their specialty skills in the diagnosis, management and investigation of childhood cancer. STPBCC and COG have nearly 100 active clinical-translational trials open at any given time.
These trials include frontline treatment for many types of childhood cancers, studies aimed at determining the underlying biology of these diseases, and trials involving new and emerging treatments, supportive care, and survivorship. Serving as leaders within the COG, our doctors have had pivotal roles in transforming childhood cancer from a virtually incurable disease 50 years ago to one with a combined five-year survival rate of 80% today.
The Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’ Consortium (POETIC)promotes early clinical development of promising therapies for the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults with cancer and related disorders. As one of only 11 sites in the nation partnering with POETIC, the South Texas Pediatric Blood and Cancer Center staff is able to provide the latest treatments and therapies to children in San Antonio and South Texas with cancer and blood disorders.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) is a national network of investigators, cancer care providers, academic institution and other organizations that conduct multi-site cancer clinical trials and studies to diverse populations across the United States and Puerto Rico. We serve as the center of a network of community oncology programs across south Texas. Our research is aimed at reducing cancer risk and incidence, improving cancer care outcomes, expanding access to cancer care, increasing quality and balancing cost and reducing cancer disparities.
Clinical trials in hematology are aimed at understanding the genetics of bleeding disorders, women’s health issues including abnormal uterine bleeding, complement diseases such as aHUS and PNH and sickle-cell related disorders.
As a member of the National Cancer Institute initiative of international oncology, doctors from around the world are educated and trained at University Hospital, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Center and the Cancer Therapy & Research Institute.
