Haworth Innovative Therapeutics Clinic

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Find a pediatric cancer clinical trial

When your child receives a rare cancer or blood disorder diagnosis, it can feel overwhelming. Enrolling your child in an innovative clinical trial at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital can provide the hope you need.

Contact us to find a clinical trial for your child

At the Haworth Innovative Therapeutics Clinic, we conduct innovative clinical trials to improve the lives of the pediatric hematology and oncology patients at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and around the world. We provide innovative and personalized care for children with cancer and blood disorders that do not respond to standard therapy.

Featured trials

Osteosarcoma
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Phase 1 trial in patients with recurrent or refractory metastatic solid tumors including small cell lung cancer, high risk neuroblastoma, sarcoma and malignant melanoma

Patients with small cell lung cancer, high risk neuroblastoma, sarcoma and malignant melanoma will be treated with a two-step radioimmunotherapy to assess safety and tolerability.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05130255

Phase 3 randomized controlled trial in patients with osteosarcoma

This phase 3 trial compares the effect of open thoracic surgery to thoracoscopic surgery in treating patients with osteosarcoma that has spread to the lung. Open thoracic surgery is a type of surgery done through a single larger incision (like a large cut) that goes between the ribs, opens up the chest, and removes the cancer. Thoracoscopy is a type of chest surgery where the doctor makes several small incisions and uses a small camera to help with removing the cancer. This trial is being done to evaluate the two different surgery methods for patients with osteosarcoma that has spread to the lung to find out which is better.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05235165?term=NCT05235165&rank=1

Feasibility and randomized phase 2/3 study for newly diagnosed osteosarcoma

This phase 2/3 trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of a trial drug in combination with standard chemotherapy, and to compare the effect of adding a trial drug to standard chemotherapy alone in treating patients with newly diagnosed osteosarcoma.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05691478?term=NCT05691478&rank=1

Ewing sarcoma
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Phase 1 trial for patients with recurrent or refractory metastatic solid tumors including small cell lung cancer, high risk neuroblastoma, sarcoma and malignant melanoma

Patients with small cell lung cancer, high risk neuroblastoma, sarcoma and malignant melanoma will be treated with a two-step radioimmunotherapy, delivered as two separate products to assess safety and tolerability.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05130255

EMERGE 101: Phase 1/2, open-label study in pediatric participants with previously treated solid tumors in pediatric and young adult participants with relapsed/refractory Ewing sarcoma

This study is conducted in two phases. The phase 1 portion of the study evaluates the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), and effectiveness of lurbinectedin monotherapy in pediatric participants with previously treated solid tumors. This is followed by the phase 2 portion, to further assess the effectiveness and safety in pediatric and young adult participants with recurrent/refractory Ewing sarcoma.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05734066

Neuroblastoma
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Study using molecular guided therapy with induction chemotherapy followed by standard immunotherapy for newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma

A prospective open label, multicenter study to evaluate the feasibility and acute toxicity of using molecularly guided therapy in combination with standard therapy followed by a randomized controlled trial of standard immunotherapy with or without DFMO followed by DFMO maintenance for subjects with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02559778

Neuroblastoma maintenance therapy trial using difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)

DFMO will be used in an open label, single agent, multicenter, study for patients with neuroblastoma in remission. In this study subjects will receive 730 Days of oral DFMO. This study will focus on the use of DFMO in high risk neuroblastoma patients that are in remission as a strategy to prevent recurrence.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02679144

Phase 1 trial for patients with recurrent or refractory metastatic solid tumors including small cell lung cancer, high risk neuroblastoma, sarcoma and malignant melanoma

Patients with small cell lung cancer, high risk neuroblastoma, sarcoma and malignant melanoma will be treated to assess safety and tolerability.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05130255

Phase 3 study of a trial drug with chemotherapy, surgery and stem cell transplantation for the treatment of children with newly diagnosed high risk neuroblastoma

This phase 3 trial tests how well the addition of a trial drug to Induction chemotherapy along with standard of care surgical resection of the primary tumor, radiation, stem cell transplantation, and immunotherapy works for treating children with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma. Adding a trial drug to Induction chemotherapy along with standard of care surgical resection of the primary tumor, radiation, stem cell transplantation, and immunotherapy may be better at treating children with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma.

More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06172296?term=NCT06172296&rank=1

Let us serve your family

After you enroll your child in one of our clinical trials, our team will guide you through medical treatment as well as support you through emotional, social, and financial challenges.

We are here for you throughout your child’s clinical trial:

  • Our clinical research team will work with you and your loved ones to ensure all aspects of care coordination go smoothly for you during your child’s clinical trial.
  • Medical social workers can assist in arranging lodging at Corewell Health’s Renucci Hospitality House, Ronald McDonald House, or local hotels that may have discounted rates for your family.
  • Our child and family life specialists and Pediatric Oncology Resource Team provide activities for your child from infancy through young adulthood. We partner with you and your child to help you cope with the challenges of treatment.
  • Our team of chaplains are available to provide spiritual and emotional support to you and your loved ones.
  • Our team includes multiple specialists to care for your diverse set of needs. We have pediatric hematologists/oncologists, pediatric bone marrow transplant physicians, radiologists, radiation oncologists, pediatric surgeons, and a wide variety of additional pediatric specialty physicians.

Meet the team

Portrait of David Hoogstra, MD
David Hoogstra, MD
Endowed director
Sarah Klaus, PA-C
Sarah Klaus, PA-C

Physician assistant

Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN
Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN

Nurse navigator

Mary Beth Readwin, BSN
Mary Beth Readwin, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Emily George, BS
Emily George, BS

Clinical research specialist

Chad Fessenden, LMSW
Chad Fessenden, LMSW

Medical social worker

Katie Buelow, MS
Katie Buelow, MS

Scientist

Marielle Klunder, BSN
Marielle Klunder, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Mackenzie Goralski, BS
Mackenzie Goralski, BS

Research assistant

Jazmine Vasquez, BS
Jazmine Vasquez, BS

Clinical research specialist

Portrait of David Hoogstra, MD
David Hoogstra, MD
Endowed director
Sarah Klaus, PA-C
Sarah Klaus, PA-C

Physician assistant

Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN
Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN

Nurse navigator

Mary Beth Readwin, BSN
Mary Beth Readwin, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Emily George, BS
Emily George, BS

Clinical research specialist

Chad Fessenden, LMSW
Chad Fessenden, LMSW

Medical social worker

Katie Buelow, MS
Katie Buelow, MS

Scientist

Marielle Klunder, BSN
Marielle Klunder, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Mackenzie Goralski, BS
Mackenzie Goralski, BS

Research assistant

Jazmine Vasquez, BS
Jazmine Vasquez, BS

Clinical research specialist

Portrait of David Hoogstra, MD
David Hoogstra, MD
Endowed director
Sarah Klaus, PA-C
Sarah Klaus, PA-C

Physician assistant

Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN
Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN

Nurse navigator

Mary Beth Readwin, BSN
Mary Beth Readwin, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Emily George, BS
Emily George, BS

Clinical research specialist

Chad Fessenden, LMSW
Chad Fessenden, LMSW

Medical social worker

Katie Buelow, MS
Katie Buelow, MS

Scientist

Marielle Klunder, BSN
Marielle Klunder, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Mackenzie Goralski, BS
Mackenzie Goralski, BS

Research assistant

Jazmine Vasquez, BS
Jazmine Vasquez, BS

Clinical research specialist

Portrait of David Hoogstra, MD
David Hoogstra, MD
Endowed director
Sarah Klaus, PA-C
Sarah Klaus, PA-C

Physician assistant

Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN
Ryleigh VanDuine, BSN

Nurse navigator

Mary Beth Readwin, BSN
Mary Beth Readwin, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Emily George, BS
Emily George, BS

Clinical research specialist

Chad Fessenden, LMSW
Chad Fessenden, LMSW

Medical social worker

Katie Buelow, MS
Katie Buelow, MS

Scientist

Marielle Klunder, BSN
Marielle Klunder, BSN

Clinical research nurse

Mackenzie Goralski, BS
Mackenzie Goralski, BS

Research assistant

Jazmine Vasquez, BS
Jazmine Vasquez, BS

Clinical research specialist

Do you believe in the power of clinical trials?