Oncology
No one ever wants to hear that their child has cancer. But if it happens, you do want to hear that you have one of the leading-edge children's cancer centers nearby–Cook Children's.
Cancer in children, teens and young adults is rare, and some types of childhood cancers are extremely rare. Finding an experienced team that has treated those cancers is literally a life-altering decision.
Cook Children's Oncology Program
The oncology program at Cook Children's is one of only a handful of pediatric cancer programs in the southwest, and one of only four in Texas that are a Children's Oncology Group member institute. In addition, our team of physician-researchers is among the most respected in the country. What that means to you and your child is access to tomorrow's treatments and cures, today.
Our doctors are actively pursuing cures for cancer. Because of our participation in ongoing national research studies, we are able to offer many patients the opportunity to participate in studies, giving them access to the most recent medicines and advanced treatments, including genetics, nuclear medicine, stem cell transplants, and more.
Our cancer center includes stem cell transplant rooms, an inpatient and outpatient infusion center, 28 inpatient beds in private rooms, a dedicated pharmacy, Texas' first and only I-131-MIBG suite for advanced targeted treatment of neuroblastoma tumors.
While our specialty is treating and curing cancer in our patients, we also take extra care of their childhood and teen years so that they can have the support and do not pause their lives as they grow into happy, healthy adults.
Who we treat
The oncology program at Cook Children's is open to any child from infancy through young adulthood who is suspected of having cancer, has been diagnosed with cancer, or who wants a second opinion. Our patients range in age from newborn to early 20s, and sometimes even older if we are one of the only centers close by that treats the type of cancer they have. We see patients from our local area and those in other states in even other countries. And thanks to the support of our community and our social services team, we never turn away a child who needs care simply because they can't afford it.
What we treat
The oncology team at Cook Children's treats all types of cancers and tumors in children, including:
Our specialty care team
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Additional team members
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Lisa Bashore
PhD, RN, CPNP, CPON -
Amy Bayles
MSN, RN, CPNP, CPON -
Lisa Dalton
MSN, RN, FNP-BC -
Dana Johnson
MSN, RN, CPNP -
Cara Simon
PhD, CPNP
Active oncology research studies
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A Clinical and Molecular Risk-Detected Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Medulloblastoma (SJMB12)
Primary Investigator: Jeffrey C. Murray
IRB ID: 2014-025 (OPEN)
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A Comprehensive Approach to Improve Medication Adherence in Pediatric ALL
Primary Investigator: Karen Halaburt Albritton
IRB ID: 2014-084 (OPEN)
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A Multicenter, Open-label, Randomized Phase 2 Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Lenvatinib in Combination with Ifosfamide and Etoposide versus Ifosfamide and Etoposide in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Relapsed or Refractory Osteosarcoma (OLIE).
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2020-014 (OPEN)
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A Phase 1/1b, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation and Expansion Study of Entrectinib (RXDX-101) in Children and Adolescents with Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors and Primary CNS Tumors
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2017-002 (OPEN)
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A Phase 1/2 Study of Lenvatinib in Combination with Everolimus in Recurrent and Refractory Pediatric Solid Tumors, including CNS Tumors
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2019-063 (OPEN)
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A Phase 2 Study of Dabrafenib (NSC# 763760) with Trametinib (NSC# 763093) after Local Irradiation in Newly-Diagnosed BRAFV600-Mutant High-Grade Glioma (HGG) (IND# 145355))
Primary Investigator: Sibo Zhao
IRB ID: 2019-072 (OPEN)
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A Phase 2 Study of Inotuzumab Ozogamicin (NSC# 772518, IND# 133494) in Children and Young Adults with Relapsed or Refractory CD22+ B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2017-049 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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A Phase 2 Study of Veliparib (ABT-888, IND # 139199) and Local Irradiation, Followed by Maintenance Veliparib and Temozolomide, in Patients with Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma (HGG) without H3 K27M or BRAFV600E Mutations
Primary Investigator: Jeffrey C. Murray
IRB ID: 2019-003 (OPEN)
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A Phase 3 Randomized Non-Inferiority Study of Carboplatin and Vincristine versus Selumetinib (NSC# 748727, IND# 77782) in Newly Diagnosed or Previously Untreated Low-Grade Glioma (LGG) not associated with BRAFV600E Mutations or Systemic Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)
Primary Investigator: Sibo Zhao
IRB ID: 2020-011 (OPEN)
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A Phase 3 Randomized Study of Selumetinib (IND #77782) versus Carboplatin/Vincristine in Newly Diagnosed or Previously Untreated Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) Associated Low-Grade Glioma (LGG))
Primary Investigator: Jeffrey C. Murray
IRB ID: 2019-075 (OPEN)
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A Phase 3 Randomized Trial for Patients with de novo AML Comparing Standard Therapy Including Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO) to CPX-351 with GO, and the Addition of the FLT3 Inhibitor Gilteritinib for Patients with FLT3 Mutations
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2020-072 (OPEN)
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A Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Inotuzumab Ozogamicin (IND#:133494, NSC#: 772518) for Newly Diagnosed High-Risk B-ALL; Risk-Adapted Post-Induction Therapy for High-Risk B-ALL, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, and Disseminated B-LLy
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2020-022 (OPEN)
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A Phase 3 Study of Active Surveillance for Low Risk and a Randomized Trial of Carboplatin vs. Cisplatin for Standard Risk Pediatric and Adult Patients With Germ Cell Tumors
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2017-030 (OPEN)
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A Phase 3 Trial Investigating Blinatumomab (IND# 117467, NSC# 765986) in Combination with Chemotherapy in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Standard Risk or Down syndrome B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and the Treatment of Patients with Localized B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (B-LLy)
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2019-059 (OPEN)
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A Phase I/II Study of Nivolumab in Combination with 5-azacytidine in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (BMS reference CA209-9JY)
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2019-018 (OPEN)
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A Phase I/II Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Children with advanced melanoma or a PD-L1 positive advanced, relapsed or refractory solid tumor or lymphoma (KEYNOTE-051)
Primary Investigator: M. Meaghan Granger
IRB ID: 2016-078 (OPEN)
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A Phase II Trial Of Epigenetic Priming In Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia? ?
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2017-031 (OPEN)
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A Pilot Study of Vincristine Sulfate Liposome Injection (Marqibo�) in Combination with UK ALL R3 Induction Chemotherapy for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2016-075 (OPEN)
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A Randomised Phase 3 trial of Accelerated Versus Standard BEP Chemotherapy for Patients with Intermediate and Poor-Risk Metastatic Germ Cell Tumours
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-089 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Axitinib/Nivolumab Combination Therapy vs. Single Agent Axitinib or Nivolumab for the Treatment of TFE/Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma (tRCC) Across All Age Groups
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2019-101 (OPEN)
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A TACL Phase 1/2 Study of PO Ixazomib in Combination with Chemotherapy for Childhood Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoblastic Lymphoma
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2019-036 (OPEN)
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AAML1531, Risk-stratified Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Down Syndrome
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2016-031 (OPEN)
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ALTE03N1 - Key Adverse Events After Childhood Cancer
Primary Investigator: Donald Beam
IRB ID: 543 (OPEN)
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ALTE07C1, Neuropsychological, Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Outcomes in Children with Cancer
Primary Investigator: Jeffrey C. Murray
IRB ID: 2009-013 (OPEN)
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ALTE1621, Pharmacologic Reversal of Ventricular Remodeling in Childhood Cancer Survivors at Risk for Heart Failure (PReVent-HF): A Phase 2b Randomized Placebo-Controlled (Carvedilol) Trial
Primary Investigator: Donald Beam
IRB ID: 2017-005 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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An?? NIH CSER program clinical sequencing study grant collaboration
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-058 (OPEN)
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ANHL12P1, A Randomized Phase II Trial of Brentuximab Vedotin or Crizotinib in combination with Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Patients with ALCL (IND#117117)
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2015-007 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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APEC1621M: PHASE 2 SUBPROTOCOL OF TIPIFARNIB IN PATIENTS WITH TUMORS HARBORING HRASGENOMIC ALTERATIONS
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2020-070 (OPEN)
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Can we salvage young children with relapse medulloblastoma after initial radiation sparing approaches?
Primary Investigator: Jeffrey C. Murray
IRB ID: 2020-044 (OPEN)
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Clinical, Radiologic, And Molecular Characteristics Of Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytomas
Primary Investigator: Sibo Zhao
IRB ID: 2020-063 (OPEN)
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Effects of Modern Chemotherapy Regimens on Spermatogenesis and Steroidogenesis in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Survivors of Osteosarcoma
Primary Investigator: Donald Beam
IRB ID: 2018-028 (OPEN)
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Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Reirradiation�in Locally Recurrent Ependymoma
Primary Investigator: Jeffrey C. Murray
IRB ID: 2018-021 (OPEN)
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Exploration of Perceived Stress, Sleep, Fatigue, and Biomarkers in Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors
Primary Investigator: Lisa M Bashore NP
IRB ID: 2018-010 (OPEN)
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Health Effects after Anthracycline and Radiation Therapy (HEART): Dexrazoxane and Prevention of Anthracycline-related Cardiomyopathy
Primary Investigator: Donald Beam
IRB ID: 2014-023 (OPEN)
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International Phase 3 trial in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) testing imatinib in combination with two different cytotoxic chemotherapy backbones
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2017-048 (OPEN)
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Longitudinal Assessment of Ovarian Reserve in Adolescents with Lymphoma
Primary Investigator: Karen Halaburt Albritton
IRB ID: 2015-006 (OPEN)
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Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients Who Have Participated in Children's Oncology Group Studies
Primary Investigator: M. Meaghan Granger
IRB ID: 2010-109 (OPEN)
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Multi-center Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label Trial of Vigil (bi-shRNAfurin and GMCSF Augmented Autologous Tumor Cell Immunotherapy) in combination with Irinotecan and Temozolimide as a Second-Line Regimen for Ewing's Sarcoma
Primary Investigator: Anish K. Ray
IRB ID: 2019-005 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) - Phase 2 study of JNJ-42756493 (Erdafitinib) in patients with tumors harboring FGFR alterations
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-008 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) - Phase 2 study of LOXO-101 (Larotrectinib) in patients with tumors harboring NTRK fusions.
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-006 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) - Phase 2 study of Olaparib in patients with tumors harboring defects in DNA damage repair genes
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-007 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) - Phase 2 study of Tazemetostat in patients with tumors harboring alterations in EZH2 or members of the SWI/SNF complex
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-005 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis For Therapy Choice) - Phase 2 Subprotocol Of Palbociclib In Patients With Tumors Harboring Activating Alterations In Cell Cycle Genes
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-068 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice)- Phase 2 study of Ensartinib in patients with tumors harboring ALK or ROS1 genomic alterations
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-003 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice)- Phase 2 study of LY3023414 in patients with solid tumors
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-009 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice)- Phase 2 study of Selumetinib in patients with tumors harboring activating MAPK pathway mutations
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2017-066 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice)- Phase 2 study of Vemurafenib in patients with tumors harboring BRAF V600 mutations
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2018-004 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) Screening Protocol
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2017-065 (OPEN)
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NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis For Therapy Choice)-Phase 2 Subprotocol Of BVD-523FB (Ulixertinib) In Patients With Tumors Harboring Activating Mapk Pathway Mutations
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2019-102 (OPEN)
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Pediatric Hepatic Malignancy International Therapeutic Trial (PHITT)
Primary Investigator: Lauren Akers
IRB ID: 2018-066 (OPEN)
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PHASE 2 SUBPROTOCOL OF AG-120 (IVOSIDENIB) IN PATIENTS WITH TUMORS HARBORING IDH1 MUTATIONS
Primary Investigator: Kelly L. Vallance
IRB ID: 2020-055 (OPEN)
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Randomization of Cytarabine Monotherapy versus Standard-of-Care Vinblastine/Prednisone for Frontline Treatment of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
Primary Investigator: Anish K. Ray
IRB ID: 2019-067 (TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ACCRUAL)
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Total Therapy Study XVII For Newly Diagnosed Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia And Lymphoma
Primary Investigator: Kenneth M. Heym
IRB ID: 2018-080 (OPEN)
We are here to help.
If your child has been diagnosed, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. If you would like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 682-885-4007.