The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a leader in the translation of potential new cancer treatments from the laboratory to the patient, also known as translational research. The goal of childhood cancer research at CHOP is to build on the best treatments, many of which were developed in Philadelphia, and make those treatments better. This is done in part through clinical trials in which physicians and researchers test the effectiveness of experimental treatments on qualifying patients. Not all children will qualify for a clinical trial, not all families are interested in participating, and the majority of patients will not find a cure in an experimental treatment. But all families should consider the potential benefits of participating in research: the possibility of a new option for their child, and the possibility that researchers will learn something that will benefit the next generation of children diagnosed with cancer.
