University of Minnesota Pediatric Leukemia Program, Division of Pediatrics Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota

The Childhood Leukemia Program here at the University of Minnesota began in the summer of 2006 and has already become an integral part of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant. Although the cure rates for childhood leukemia continue to rise, over 500 children will relapse each year with ALL, AML or chronic leukemias and are in desperate need for further therapy. This could translate to enrolling these patients onto current treatment protocols through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) or placing them on Phase I/II studies that are available only here at the University of Minnesota.

Our Leukemia Program is a comprehensive program designed to deliver state of the art and novel treatment strategies for high-risk or relapsed patients with leukemia. It is comprised of members from both Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant. The group meets on a weekly basis to evaluate all new patients diagnosed with leukemia here at the University, along with relapsed patients, referrals for BMT and second opinions of difficult cases that may be occurring at centers across the country. The program has developed treatment algorithms to use as a guideline for the treatment of newly diagnosed and relapsed leukemia patients. These algorithms incorporate standard chemotherapy approaches, phase I and II investigational agents, and other novel therapies and protocols that are being developed and tested here at the University of Minnesota. Each week the Program typically reviews 2-4 new patients and is updated on the patients who are currently being treated at the University.

This forum becomes a great teaching aide for our fellows who spend time at these meetings during their BMT outpatient rotations. During these discussions, the fellow prepares a short summary of the patients and then develops a recommendation for the group regarding the best treatment options to consider. In reviewing the Leukemia literature and translating it to the patients we discuss each week, the fellow gains an understanding of not only the variety of therapeutic options but also the complexities that exist in relapsed patients and those with aggressive disease.

Pediatric Leukemia Program Report 2007

University of Minnesota Leukemia Program Members:

        Program Director: Scott Baker, MD
        Leukemia Coordinator: Barb Trotz, RN

        Mike Burke, MD
        Ashish Kumar, MD, PhD
        Joe Neglia, MD, MPH
        Mike Verneris, MD
        Brenda Weigel, MD