JJCCC Expands Research Program, Greater Access to Innovative Therapies

When you think of pediatric cancer, it’s not uncommon to think of research. After all, new cancer fighting drugs are always being trialed with the hopes of one The Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach is a leading pediatric cancer center, well known in Southern California for its clinical care, with a strong undertone in psychosocial care. In fact, JJCCC is the only pediatric cancer center in the region that offers extensive psychosocial care even in the outpatient setting.

JJCCC has always had an excellent clinical research office – not only is its depth of clinical research outstanding (JJCCC houses the most clinical research trials in the MemorialCare Health System), but the excellence in which the research is conducted and executed is top notch.

However, like any great innovative leader, the JJCCC team, led by Amanda Termuhlen, M.D., medical director, JJCCC, wants more. JJCCC already has a multitude of clinical protocols within the national consortium, Children’s Oncology Group (COG), but the need for greater collaboration with other children’s hospitals and research consortiums to help find cures as quickly and efficiently as possible is a must.

“One of the goals I have is to build greater access to innovative therapies, outside of COG, for our patients and their families,” says Dr. Termuhlen. “We do a great job with COG, but there is always room for growth and improvement.”  

Further expanding the research program was necessary to Dr. Termuhlen and her team. After all, according to Dr. Termuhlen, research really is the standard of care in pediatric cancer.

And expand they have. JJCCC recently received a grant from the Miller Foundation for infrastructure support for clinical research personnel. Another pending grant will improve access to therapies for the Spanish-speaking population, by offering research consent forms in Spanish. The JJCCC team also is actively and aggressively recruiting in early clinical trials.

Collaboration is an important factor in expanding this research program - it’s the only way to learn how to do things better in treating kids with cancer. Collaboration through sharing data helps improve outcomes and prevent complications in children with cancer. Miller Children’s has enhanced its partnership with CHLA to share data and information to help find cures faster.

“Southern California has the second largest pediatric oncology population in the country,” says Dr. Termuhlen. “Without collaboration with local partners, such as CHLA, and national consortiums we wouldn’t have made the great strides today that we have for childhood leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has a survival rate of 85 percent. But we must do more to improve survival rates in all cancers and serious blood disorders.”

In the future, JJCCC is looking to bring on more pharmaceutical trials and non-therapeutic clinical research and survivorship programs. Expanding the survivorship research, through the late effects program, is imperative. It is not enough to only target and learn about medical issues in survivors, but the program must be expanded to learn what can be done to stop the late effects from happening. It is also important to expand the research collaboration to learn about innovative bone heath in leukemia survivors. All of this leads to the end goal of fewer medical complications and improved quality of life.

“Long Beach is such a diverse community that JJCCC has a real chance at being a leader in survivorship research in the United States,” says Dr. Termuhlen. “Most of the survivorship research comes from the north-eastern side of the U.S.; so it doesn’t reflect the diverse population, which makes up America. Long Beach offers the perfect blend of diversity to help all people understand the true effects of pediatric cancer treatment.”   

Patients and families are excited for these expanded opportunities of treatment and care. JJCCC has the majority of their patients, more than 90 percent, enrolled in clinical trials or protocols.

One thing is certain: the JJCCC care team and current patients and their families are proud to help children with cancer and serious blood disorders find a cure and hopefully eliminate cancer for the next generation of children.