Many of the seminal discoveries in the field of cancer genetics have been made in relatively rare malignancies arising during childhood. These discoveries have dramatically enhanced our understanding of cancer initiation and progression, but as of yet have not had a substantive impact on clinical practice. Childhood cancer is a particularly vexing problem as improved cure rates achieved in the past have now reached a plateau, and have come at the cost of significant long-term morbidity. This session will focus on significant recent advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of a variety of childhood cancers, and the intense efforts to leverage these discoveries into predictive biomarkers and precise new therapies.
New Concepts in Organ Site Research: The Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancer

Discovering the genetic basis of childhood cancer; Tom Curran. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Excessive constitutional DNA copy number variation and cancer susceptibility; David Malkin. Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

The genetic basis of human neuroblastoma: How recent discoveries will impact patients with the disease; Yaël P. Mossé. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Acquired genomic alterations in childhood leukemias identify critical developmental pathways for therapeutic intervention; Charles G. Mullighan. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

Translating the genetic basis of childhood cancer; John M. Maris. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,