News
Sarcoma team receives NCI SPORE grant to develop immunologic and targeted treatments for younger rare bone cancer patients
We are proud to share the news that has been awarded a $9 million Sarcoma Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant to develop innovative treatment options for rare cancers that affect pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) patients, as well as older adults.
Sarcoma is a relatively rare type of cancer and accounts for less than 1% of cancers in adults and 15% of childhood cancers. This study will drive age-inclusive translational research focused on immunologic and target treatments¡ªwith special attention to challenges faced by younger patients. The investigative team will focus on two projects. One evaluates and refines the use of novel antibody-drug conjugates, a treatment that combines targeted therapy and chemotherapy, for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that typically affects children and young adults. This treatment will be offered in a Phase II clinical trial. The other study focuses on developing adoptive cellular therapy for chordoma, a rare type of tumor found in the skull base and spine. The treatment will be offered through a clinical trial of T cells targeting a key protein.
Co-Principal Investigators are , head of Pediatrics, and , chair of the Department of Genomic Medicine. ?The institution received notice of the SPORE grant from the National Cancer Institute on Aug. 19, 2025. Access our link to learn more about the specific projects within the .
"I'm honored to have your respect," says Eugenie Kleinerman, M.D., osteosarcoma trailblazer, at symposium in her honor
Leaders in the field of osteosarcoma research, medical oncology and surgery gathered in March to celebrate the impact of Eugenie Kleinerman, M.D., professor of Pediatrics at MD Anderson Children¡¯s Cancer Hospital.
, held March 7, 2025, brought together 11 speakers who shared information about their research, medical and surgical paths after working with or being mentored by Kleinerman during her 40 years at MD Anderson. The daylong event took place at the beautiful TMC3 Collaborative Building, where many experts in the Texas Medical Center meet to share ideas, inspire the next generation, and seek collaborators for projects that will impact healthcare around the world.
An internationally recognized trailblazer in sarcoma research, particularly osteosarcoma, Kleinerman pioneered a groundbreaking treatment approach for young people battling osteosarcoma lung metastases¡ªtaking her hypothesis from an idea to the lab and into multiple clinical trials, ultimately leading to regulatory approval in European countries, as well as Mexico, South America, Turkey, China and Korea.
The photo shows Kleinerman with , an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He participated in Kleinerman's trial as a teen osteosarcoma lung metastases patient and now works at UPMC as a sarcoma orthopaedic oncologist and researcher. He also is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro-Football Team, whose fans proudly wave their signature ¡°Terrible Towels¡± during game time.
Kleinerman said that she was struggling to prepare her ¡°thank-you¡± remarks the weekend before the event, so she watched the Academy Award acceptance speeches for inspiration. ¡°These were of no help,¡± she commented. Continuing to struggle with putting her thoughts about the occasion into words, she tried using ChatGPT for help on the recommendation of her son Andrew. ¡°He said to just tell it all the things you want to say, all the topics you want to cover, and the emotions you want to express, and if you don¡¯t like it, tell ChatGPT to make it more heartfelt," she joked. That was not productive either. Kleinerman said she finally realized that words couldn¡¯t adequately communicate her feelings. ¡°I'm overwhelmed, so I will make a word salad for how I'm feeling: Gratitude, Humility, Exhilaration, Pride, Surprise, Elation, Lucky, and Shocked.¡±
Kleinerman added, "Never did I anticipate being honored with a symposium, having colleagues and former students take time out of their busy lives to travel to honor me. I am blown away and grateful to all of you. I feel privileged that my life¡¯s work is being recognized by my peers¡ªand more than anything else, I¡¯m honored to have your respect."
St. Jude Leader in Leukemia Research and Protocols Gave Sutow Lecture??
We were honored Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 to host the W. W. Sutow Visiting Lecturer in Pediatric Oncology-- Ching-Hon Pui, M.D.
He is a co-leader of the Hematological Malignancies Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee; director of the China Program at St. Jude Global; and an American Cancer Society Professor.?
Pui's talk was titled, "Refining precision therapies for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemias." His talk honored Dr. Wataru W. Sutow's legacy in pediatric oncology and covered advances in targeted therapies, risk-adapted treatment strategies, and efforts to reduce long-term side effects.
Pui also highlighted ongoing research, building on Dr. Sutow's pioneering contributions and discussed international collaborations to improve pediatric cancer care globally.
About Dr. Sutow:?This gentle, soft-spoken man combined a great compassion for human suffering with an unshakable commitment to scientific principles. His work helped establish the discipline of pediatric oncology. In doing so, he helped bring about a fundamental change in our approach to cancer treatment. By advocating chemotherapy as a viable alternative to radiation therapy and surgery, he produced some of the most dramatic results ever achieved in pediatric oncology.
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