Cancer and Blood Disorders - Driscoll Children's Hospital

Leading Pediatric Cancer Research in South Texas

The Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at Driscoll Children’s Hospital is the first pediatric cancer center in South Texas. We are the region’s leader in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer and blood disorders, offering state-of-the-art treatment in a family-centered atmosphere. Staying at the forefront of childhood cancer research is integral to providing children with the best possible care. Treatment, along with our clinical research, offers hope for a cure. Research saves lives and changes the odds for kids now and far into the future.

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Research and clinical trials: what does it mean for our patients?

Every day, 43 children or adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. The survival rate for children with cancer has dramatically improved over the last 30 years.
The main reason for success in the fight against childhood cancer has been the participation of childhood cancer patients in clinical trials. A clinical trial is a treatment protocol that combines state-of-the-art treatment with clinical, or patient-oriented, research.
Studies have demonstrated that childhood cancer patients participating in clinical trials have, in general, better outcomes than patients who do not participate in such studies.
Collaborative research is key to cancer prevention, treatment and cure.

The Driscoll Difference

Driscoll Children’s Hospital has participated in childhood cancer clinical research for over three decades. Our Cancer and Blood Disorder Center (CBDC) is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

COG is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The NCORP is a national network that brings cancer clinical trials and care delivery studies to people in their own communities.

Our participation in COG and the NCORP keeps us at the forefront of childhood cancer treatment and research. The children treated at Driscoll Children’s Hospital receive the same state-of-the-art care as at larger institutions, and through our cancer research network, have access to more than 100 clinical trials, 8,000 childhood cancer experts and new and innovative therapies including investigational agents not commercially available while staying close to home.

Driscoll Children’s Hospital has been recognized by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) for the highest NCORP enrollment in treatment studies and cancer care delivery research. Our investigators and research team were awarded gold and silver certificates of excellence for Exceptional Achievement in Patient Enrollments in National Cancer Institute Treatment and Cancer Control, Prevention and Screening trials. These national recognitions highlight the excellent work in clinical research happening at Driscoll.