Pediatric Sarcomas

Initially, The Sunshine Project will target pediatric sarcomas. Sarcomas are malignant tumors of the connective tissues and are divided into two main groups, bone tumors and soft tissue sarcomas. The most common types of pediatric sarcomas include Ewing’s Sarcoma, Rhabdomyasarcoma and Osteosarcoma. Sarcomas are an extremely challenging group of cancers to treat and carry a lower survival rate than most childhood cancers.

We have targeted sarcomas for several reasons:

1. Sarcomas are an extremely challenging group of cancers to treat and carry a lower survival rate than most childhood cancer.
2. The treatment options for cancers such as pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas are extremely limited, as few as 30 percent of children battling the disease survive.
3. It is estimated that half of the oncology drugs used to treat with sarcomas children are at least 20 years old. In the past 10 years, only one cancer drug has received initial approval for children.
4. There is a lack of private sector research for childhood cancer. This “research gap” is related to the relatively small number of children needing treatment for the disease as compared to the much larger adult. Today, nearly 80% of the children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors, and the majority of them are considered cured. With additional effort, the goal of eradicating ALL childhood cancers – the remaining 20% - is achievable.