TITANan innovative transatlantic project
Zoé4life funds TITAN, an innovative transatlantic project for children with high-risk neuroblastoma.
On November 16, 2021, Zoé4life and 6 partner associations announced their support for TITAN, to the tune of $1.3 million. This sum will fund a pediatric oncology research project. This is the first transatlantic study of its kind on the precise treatment of a rare childhood cancer.
Zoé4life, Band of Parents, Joining Against Cancer in Kids (J-A-C-K), Ronan Thompson Foundation, Solving Kids' Cancer UK, Solving Kids' Cancer (New York) and Wade's Army join forces for this international partnership project:
Institut Gustave Roussy in Paris and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) received a grant. In parallel, the grant will support a Phase 3 clinical trial developed by the European Society of Pediatric Oncology - Neuroblastoma (SIOPEN) and the Children's Oncology Group (COG).
This is a pioneering collaboration between these American and European pediatric cancer consortia. It will focus on neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer.
"International collaboration is vital to rapidly advancing the cure rate for children with cancer. Particularly rare cancers such as neuroblastoma. But it's not without its challenges! We are extremely proud to be advancing innovation to offer real hope to children affected by neuroblastoma. We are also very grateful to the pioneering team of researchers who have made this possible." Nicole Scobie, President Zoé4life
An innovative project
Around 90% of neuroblastoma diagnoses occur before the age of 5. Furthermore, in North America and Europe, around 1,500 children are diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma every year. This requires intense and exhausting treatment. And unfortunately, 5 years after diagnosis, more than half will not survive. Finally, those who do recover often suffer lifelong side effects. For example, hearing loss, learning disabilities and secondary cancers.
A pioneering collaboration
The study is known as TITAN - Transatlantic Integration Targeting ALK in Neuroblastoma. This will introduce a targeted drug into first-line treatment for these children. The hope is to significantly increase their survival rate. This transatlantic trial is historic. Indeed, it is the first to bring together such pediatric consortia on both sides of the Atlantic.
The aim is to target mutations in the ALK oncogene. These are found in 14% or more of neuroblastoma patients. Researchers have recently discovered a highly specific and powerful ALK inhibitor: lorlatinib. Lorlatinib is a drug used to treat lung cancer. It would appear that lorlatinib inhibits the cancerous activity of ALK mutations. It would therefore have a significant impact on neuroblastoma patients.
In parallel, Phase 3 clinical trials are being conducted within COG in North America and SIOPEN in Europe. As a result, researchers hope to use lorlatinib to significantly improve survival in patients with this form of neuroblastoma containing an ALK gene mutation.
This project is part of our international partnership with Solving Kid's Cancer The latter has been funded to the tune of $1'300'000 (of which $200'000 by Zoé4life) by :
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