The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is a 10-year multi-institutional collaboration. It is supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (U24 CA55727) of the National Institutes of Health and by funds provided to the University of Minnesota Cancer Center by the Children's Cancer Research Fund. Since 1994, CCSS has successfully established and followed 14,370 five-year survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer diagnosed between 1970-1986 and a sample of 3,737 sibling controls.

The CCSS, derived through 26 participating clinical centers, has collected detailed information on cancer diagnosis, therapy received, as well as health and quality of life related outcomes. The CCSS provides a dynamic framework and resource in which to investigate current and future questions regarding consequences of therapy, genetic associations, disease processes, causation, interventions, and quality of life among childhood cancer survivors.

Biological Specimens Available for Research

To expand the scope of research that can be conducted within the CCSS, a biologic repository has been established consisting of:

1. genomic DNA from buccal cell samples provided by survivors and siblings; and
2. lymphoblastoid cell lines established from peripheral blood samples of subjects with a second or subsequent neoplasm.

To date, we have collected viable buccal cells on 5,790 survivors and 1,173 siblings. We have also received blood specimens from 494 survivors who developed a subsequent cancer. These materials will be made available to interested investigators through the CCSS approval process.

Contact Information

Visit CCSS: A Resource for Researchers

Selected References

Robison LL, Mertens AC, Boice JD, Breslow NE et al. Study Design and Cohort Characteristics of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: A Multi-Institutional Collaborative Project. Med Pediatr Oncol 38:229-39; 2002.

Neglia JP, Friedman DL, Yasui Y, Mertens AC, et al. Second Malignant Neoplasms in Five-Year Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:618-29, 2001.

Mertens AC, Yasui Y, Neglia J, Potter J et al. Late Mortality Experience in Five-Year Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancer: The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol 19:3163-72, 2001.

Emmons K, Li F, Whitton J, Mertens AC et al. Predictors of Smoking Initiation and Cessation Among Childhood Cancer Survivors. J Clin Oncol 20:1608-16, 2002.

Zebrack BJ, Zeltzer LK, Whitton J, Mertens AC et al. Psychological Outcomes in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Leukemia, Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Pediatrics 110:42-52, 2002

Hudson MM, Mertens AC, Yasui Y, Hobbie W et al. Health Status of Adults who are Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. JAMA 290:1583-92,2003.