Recent advancements in genetic testing are offering new hope for targeted therapies in childhood cancers. A study led by researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, analyzed tumors from children and young people with relapsed cancers to understand how these tumors adapt and change in response to treatment. The study introduced the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood tests—a less invasive method—to monitor tumor evolution and identify new treatment targets. This approach can detect additional DNA mutations that traditional tumor biopsies might miss, potentially leading to more precise and effective treatments.
In a related development, a young child named Flynn Christy was diagnosed with infantile fibrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft-tissue cancer. Genetic testing revealed a specific genetic abnormality in Flynn’s tumor, which responded remarkably well to Larotrectinib, an oral drug targeting the NTRK fusion gene. Instead of undergoing traditional chemotherapy, Flynn received this targeted therapy, resulting in the tumor shrinking to an almost undetectable size within five weeks and disappearing entirely by February 2025, with no side effects reported. Click for More Details
