In Germany, children with cancer are routinely treated in controlled studies. As a result, treatment outcomes have dramatically improved over the past decades. Thanks to extensive advances in molecular genetic analysis and a multitude of new targeted drugs and immunotherapeutic treatment approaches, we now have cause for hope that we can even better help children with cancer in the future.
In our center, children and adolescents with cancer and severe blood disorders have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, providing them access to the latest diagnostic and treatment procedures. While clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies and other hospitals are facilitated through the Clinical Trial Unit, our Trial Development Group and Study Management Group also develop and lead our own experimental Phase I/II clinical trials. With this individualized approach, the translational KiTZ program assesses novel treatment approaches, positioning our research unit in a pioneering role in Germany.
KiTZ is deeply integrated into the Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (GPOH) and various international networks. The Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) network serves as an international hub for pediatric Phase I/II trial sites and plays a significant role in facilitating academic and pharmaceutical industry partnerships for the introduction of pediatric clinical trials. Within this network, KiTZ functions as an International Sponsor Institution, enabling it to conduct its own academic studies across the extensive ITCC network. Moreover, KiTZ serves as the European sponsor representative for CONNECT and is a member of PNOC, both of which are North American pediatric neuro-oncology networks. Additionally, KiTZ maintains close collaborations with other clinical trial groups in North America and Australia. Furthermore, KiTZ has strong partnerships with researchers conducting clinical trials in adult oncology, such as NCT.
The ongoing studies for children and adolescents with cancer at KiTZ are listed under the respective entity subcategories. Furthermore, the GPOH provides an overview of current pediatric oncology studies, including numerous therapy optimization studies, on its study portal.