USC-CHLA Institute for Pediatric Clinical Research

Nevertheless, Min H. Kang, PharmD, director of the Leukemia Preclinical Testing Lab in the USC-CHLA Institute for Pediatric Clinical Research (IPCR), is excited about the potential for one new drug to benefit children with leukemia. Her research is building evidence that ABT-737, a small molecule developed by Abbott Laboratories, has promise in the arsenal against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Dr. Kang has shown that this exciting new drug significantly enhances the power of a combination of chemotherapeutic drugs commonly used against ALL. By inhibiting the over-expression of proteins that protect the cancer from cell death, ABT-737 essentially destroys leukemia’s armor and exposes more of it to frontal attack.

Today, 80 percent of children with ALL are cured. Still, one child in five with ALL will die of the disease. “ABT-737 may be part of the answer,” says Dr. Kang. “In laboratory studies, it shows dramatic activity. It is the most exciting new agent I have researched so far.” In 2007, her findings were published in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology, in an article authored with C. Patrick Reynolds, MD, PhD, director of the IPCR’s Developmental Therapeutics Program.

Dr Kang’s paper paves the way for clinical trials of this new approach to cancer chemotherapy to be developed for children with ALL.

Overview

The USC-CHLA Institute for Pediatric Clinical Research (IPCR) was founded in 2003 at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles with an anonymous gift of $15 million to conduct research, with a particular emphasis on developing new treatments and strategies to combat serious childhood diseases. It combines resources from both Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine, and we believe it will become the most active and productive pediatric clinical trials program in the United States, able to find the best means to diagnose, treat and prevent pediatric disease and to promote child and adolescent health. Dr. Siegel is the principal investigator.

The IPCR was made possible in large part because of the dedication and commitment of USC President Steven B. Sample and Co-Chair of the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Board of Trustees Walter B. Rose. Dr. Sample said at the time of the announcement, "The [IPCR] is a manifestation of the shared goals and vision of USC and Childrens Hospital to create a truly world-class organization in this area of great need. By combining our institutions’ strengths and resources, we are confident that we can make a significant impact on childhood diseases by finding breakthrough treatments and cures."