Budget Cuts May Hurt Children with Cancer
February 19, 2007
Feb. 2007-Doctors consider clinical research trials the main reason cure rates for childhood cancer have risen from about 20 percent four decades ago to about 80 percent today. But federal budget cuts could erode that progress and prevent many children from getting cutting-edge treatments that could lead to cures, medical researchers say.
The cuts in federal funding—from $162 million in 2002 to just $130 million in 2007—have forced the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the world's largest childhood-cancer research organization, to put 20 new studies on hold and decrease enrollment in new clinical trials by more than 400 children next year.
The COG is part of a larger foundation that enrolls nearly half of all cancer patients in clinical trials performed in the U.S. It conducts trials at children's hospitals across the nation that test new medicines, procedures or methods. Researchers say they use data from clinical trials to determine which treatments are most effective. Three-quarters of children with cancer become research subjects in trials, compared with less than 2 percent of adults with cancer. For now, cuts will not affect children currently on treatment for childhood cancer.
"It's very frustrating. It's very disappointing," says Dr. Gregory Reaman, who oversees the pediatric-cancer trials. "I think it will cost lives. And I think that is what people on Capitol Hill who make decisions about the federal budget need to understand. This will cost lives." Reaman believes the research funding ultimately fell victim to other priorities, such as homeland security and the war in Iraq. "Our concern is that this is just the beginning" of reductions in funding, he says.
Reaman says his group doesn't want to slow the progress being made against childhood cancer, but there just isn't enough money to do all the trials. Until Congress passes a budget, the COG will get interim funding of about $20 million from the National Cancer Institute for this grant. After the federal budget becomes final, Reaman will learn how much his group gets, which could range from $21.6 million to $24.9 million.
The list of studies the COG plans to eliminate is not final, but Reaman says the cuts will cover several diseases, such as relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, relapsed solid tumors, a brain tumor called “good risk” medulloblastoma and chronic myeloid leukemia. Some of these are the more common childhood cancers, in which researchers have made the most progress, he points out. "In situations where cure rates are below 50 percent, we're committed to doing those trials," Reaman notes.
National Cancer Institute spokesman Michael J. Miller attributes the funding cuts "in large part to the flatness of the (Institute’s) budget." He says that when you figure in a second grant awarded to the group for its data center, the decline from two years ago to this year was only 2 percent. He adds that the latest awards are not final because Congress hasn't yet passed a budget, but he acknowledges that the total will be lower than this year's.
Researchers say the federal cuts come at a critical time when cancer deaths are dropping—a trend they want to see continue. "This is really the first time in my 20-year career where funding has been cut for childhood cancer, and it's a drastic cut," says Dr. Jeffrey Moscow, chief of pediatric oncology/hematology at Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington. "It's a tragedy."
Those concerned about the decrease in federal funds available for childhood cancer research can contact their congressional representatives. For more information, visit the Children’s Oncology Group’s Web site at www.curesearch.org.
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February 19, 2007
Feb. 2007-Doctors consider clinical research trials the main reason cure rates for childhood cancer have risen from about 20 percent four decades ago to about 80 percent today. But federal budget cuts could erode that progress and prevent many children from getting cutting-edge treatments that could lead to cures, medical researchers say.
The cuts in federal funding—from $162 million in 2002 to just $130 million in 2007—have forced the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the world's largest childhood-cancer research organization, to put 20 new studies on hold and decrease enrollment in new clinical trials by more than 400 children next year.
The COG is part of a larger foundation that enrolls nearly half of all cancer patients in clinical trials performed in the U.S. It conducts trials at children's hospitals across the nation that test new medicines, procedures or methods. Researchers say they use data from clinical trials to determine which treatments are most effective. Three-quarters of children with cancer become research subjects in trials, compared with less than 2 percent of adults with cancer. For now, cuts will not affect children currently on treatment for childhood cancer.
"It's very frustrating. It's very disappointing," says Dr. Gregory Reaman, who oversees the pediatric-cancer trials. "I think it will cost lives. And I think that is what people on Capitol Hill who make decisions about the federal budget need to understand. This will cost lives." Reaman believes the research funding ultimately fell victim to other priorities, such as homeland security and the war in Iraq. "Our concern is that this is just the beginning" of reductions in funding, he says.
Reaman says his group doesn't want to slow the progress being made against childhood cancer, but there just isn't enough money to do all the trials. Until Congress passes a budget, the COG will get interim funding of about $20 million from the National Cancer Institute for this grant. After the federal budget becomes final, Reaman will learn how much his group gets, which could range from $21.6 million to $24.9 million.
The list of studies the COG plans to eliminate is not final, but Reaman says the cuts will cover several diseases, such as relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, relapsed solid tumors, a brain tumor called “good risk” medulloblastoma and chronic myeloid leukemia. Some of these are the more common childhood cancers, in which researchers have made the most progress, he points out. "In situations where cure rates are below 50 percent, we're committed to doing those trials," Reaman notes.
National Cancer Institute spokesman Michael J. Miller attributes the funding cuts "in large part to the flatness of the (Institute’s) budget." He says that when you figure in a second grant awarded to the group for its data center, the decline from two years ago to this year was only 2 percent. He adds that the latest awards are not final because Congress hasn't yet passed a budget, but he acknowledges that the total will be lower than this year's.
Researchers say the federal cuts come at a critical time when cancer deaths are dropping—a trend they want to see continue. "This is really the first time in my 20-year career where funding has been cut for childhood cancer, and it's a drastic cut," says Dr. Jeffrey Moscow, chief of pediatric oncology/hematology at Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington. "It's a tragedy."
Those concerned about the decrease in federal funds available for childhood cancer research can contact their congressional representatives. For more information, visit the Children’s Oncology Group’s Web site at www.curesearch.org.
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