New Efforts to Combat Childhood Brain Cancer
According to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, around 400,000 children around the world are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year. In the U.S., advances in research and treatment have significantly improved survival rates, with 80% of kids living at least five years after diagnosis. However, there’s still a long way to go, especially in finding cures for rarer types of cancer.
Fernando Goldsztein knows this struggle all too well. His son, Frederico, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, the most common type of brain tumor in children, when he was just nine years old. While medulloblastoma is rare—affecting only five out of one million kids each year—it remains difficult to fund research for new treatments.
“When I was told there was nothing more we could do, my world fell apart,” Fernando recounted. “Doctors advised me to go home and spend time with my son.”
Frederico experienced a relapse, prompting Fernando to take action. “After two weeks of processing the news, I realized I had to do something,” he said.
Frederico continues to battle recurrent medulloblastoma today at age 18. To accelerate research, Fernando founded the Medulloblastoma Initiative (MBI) in partnership with Dr. Roger Packer, a prominent researcher in the field.
“We aim to find a cure as quickly as possible,” Fernando explained. “Collaboration is key, and our scientists work closely together as a team.”
The MBI has united over a dozen research labs globally, enabling rapid progress on important studies. “Each lab contributes a vital piece, allowing us to make significant advancements quickly,” he said.
Since the last update from MBI, they have helped fast-track at least two clinical trials for medulloblastoma and more research is underway. “We are excited about the promising results we’re seeing,” Fernando added.
In one funded clinical trial, researchers are programming patients’ white blood cells to target and destroy cancer cells, showing encouraging results in early tests. Additionally, scientists at the University of Florida are testing a possible mRNA-based cancer vaccine that may enhance the immune response against tumors.
Fernando emphasizes that all donations to the MBI directly support research and trials aimed at helping kids like Frederico. “He’s doing well now, but we know these tumors can return. That’s why we’re moving fast to help him and many other young patients,” he stated.
For more information and to support the Medulloblastoma Initiative, interested individuals can find resources and donation options online.
