For more than 70 years, the University of Minnesota has been a leader in the areas of childhood cancers, including cancer research, patient care, and education. Some highlights include:

• Led research that contributed to the increase in survival rates for childhood cancer from about 10 percent in 1959 to 80 percent today.
• Performing the world's first successful transplant for immune deficiency and lymphoma. The Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program continues to be a leader in improving transplantation and developing new applications.
• Rapidly applying the latest research to the treatment of children with cancer. This includes the use of new agents, targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies and other new surgical and radiotherapy techniques.
• Identifying and reducing the long-term effects of childhood cancer.

Pediatric, or childhood, cancers are mostly those of the white blood cells (leukemias), brain, bone, the lymphatic system and tumors of the muscles, kidneys and nervous system. Each of these behaves differently, but all are characterized by an uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells. The causes of most childhood cancers are not known.

For more information, read "Cancer is Not Just an Adult Disease," a Health Talk & You article by Joseph Neglia, M.D., M.P.H., who is an associate professor in the University of Minnesota's pediatrics department and a member of the University's Cancer Center.

Pediatric Cancer Care

Children with cancer rarely are treated by family physicians or pediatricians. A child with cancer must be diagnosed precisely and treated by clinical and laboratory scientists who have expertise in the management of children with cancer. There are several interdisciplinary teams of physicians at the Masonic Cancer Center who are uniquely devoted to cancers that impact children. These teams develop and deliver new approaches and research treatment, prevention, long-term survival and support.

Pediatric Cancer Care Team Members

The links below go to physician profiles on the University of Minnesota Physicians Web site. To return to this site, either bookmark this page or use your browser's back button.

Joseph Neglia, M.D., Section Head

Brenda Weigel, M.D.

Marie Steiner, M.D.

Ashish Kumar, M.D., Ph.D.

Daniel Mulrooney, M.D.

Michael Burke, M.D.

Susan Kearney, M.D.

Chris Moertel, M.D.

Nancy Youngren, R.N.

Jody Dahl, R.N., C.N.P.

Tammie Dahlheimer, R.N., C.N.P.

Kandee Schacher, R.N., C.N.P.

Lexi Maciej, R.N., C.N.P.

Megan Miranda, R.N., M.S.

Tracey Selstad, M.S.W.

Additional Care Teams

Pediatric Brain Tumor Care Team

Pediatric Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Care Team

Clinical Trials

Many clinical trials are underway at the Masonic Cancer Center to test new therapies for children with cancer. View a list of select advanced clinical trials that are available now.