Kimryn Rathmell: Renal Medullary Carcinoma is now a focal point of the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative

Kimryn Rathmell, Director of National Cancer Institute, shared a thread on X:

“Early in my career, I treated a young man with renal medullary carcinoma—a rare, devastating kidney cancer mainly affecting AYAs of African descent carrying the sickle cell gene. At the time, little info existed, and survival estimates were bleak.

We put our heads together, collaborating with experts like Marston Linehan at NCI Center for Cancer Research and Nizar Tannir at MD Anderson Cancer Center to devise a chemotherapy regimen. Our patient lived for a year and was able to graduate from high school, but he deserved so much more.

That wasn’t the end to the story. Recognizing the gaps in care for renal medullary carcinoma patients, we partnered across disciplines to learn about this disease. Today, we have a better handle on the biology, the first clinical trials, and community support networks.

While we’re not yet curing these kids, renal medullary carcinoma (like many other cancers) is now a focal point of the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, and the future is bright.”

Further details.

Source: Kimryn Rathmell/X