Relapsed and Resistant Pediatric Cancer

Unfortunately for many families, some cancers resist therapy, resulting in a situation where cancer cells do not die, continue growing or come back after initial response.

University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is one of a very limited number of children’s cancer centers in the U.S. that offer certain experimental therapies to children, adolescents and young adults with recurrent illness (relapse), those whose disease has not responded to traditional treatment, and those with a diagnosis that has no reasonable cure. 

Clinical trials are extremely important for children with hard-to-treat or relapsed conditions. An oncology clinical trial tests new methods of treating pediatric cancers, such as new drug therapies, new approaches to surgery or radiation or new methods for biologically targeted therapy.   In a clinical trial, your child receives state of the art treatment and has a chance to be among the first to benefit from new therapies. 

Participating in a clinical trial also helps ensure that children diagnosed with cancer in the future will be benefit from what is learned from clinical trials today, just as your child benefits from what has been learned from past clinical trials.

  • We are the only Children’s Oncology Group Phase I Consortium member in the state of Michigan, which means that we offer unique studies unavailable at other hospitals in Michigan.
  • We are one of the pioneers in offering high dose MIBG trials for relapsed or resistant neuroblastoma.
  • As one of only a handful of NANT (New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy) and TACL (Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia) consortium member institution, we offer families access to a number of trials only available at NANT and TACL institutions.
  • Our oncologists offer new approaches in precision medicine through next generation gene sequencing in patients with relapsed, resistant and rare cancers.
  • For patients with relapsed or resistant leukemia, our clinic offer the only pediatric cellular therapy (CAR-T) program in Michigan as well as Michigan’s most experienced bone marrow transplant program.

Second Opinion Consultations for Relapsed and Resistant Cancers

The pediatric oncology program at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital offers second opinion consultations for families whose child has been diagnosed with a relapsed or resistant cancer. 

Our physicians will work with you and your referring physician to confirm your diagnosis and discuss treatment recommendations.  Should you decide to work with our team for your treatment, our goal is always to work collaboratively with referring physicians and incorporate care that is close to your home whenever possible.

Take the next step

For more information about second opinions at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, or to make an appointment, call 734-936-9814.