The overarching goal of the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative is to enhance the collection, analysis, and sharing of data from children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with a pediatric cancer. The Molecular Characterization Initiative aims to advance the initiative’s goal by generating molecular characterization data from biospecimens collected from pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients currently enrolled in applicable pediatric cancer trials.
The Biospecimen Research Group provides project management, operational support, and technical oversight of the program.
NCI announced the launch of the Molecular Characterization Initiative for pediatric cancers in March 2022, with enrollment currently offered to children, adolescents, and young adults participating in Project:EveryChild (APEC14B1), a childhood cancer registry maintained by the Children’s Oncology Group, with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, soft tissue sarcomas (STS), and certain rare (RAR) childhood cancers.
Under the initiative, DNA and RNA isolated from pediatric patients’ tumors and normal biospecimens receive whole-exome sequencing, an RNA fusion panel, and DNA methylation analysis. Clinical reports for each molecular characterization are returned to the submitting clinicians with actionable results, and all de-identified data are uploaded to the NCI Cancer Data Service for release to the scientific community.
For any further information related to the Molecular Characterization Initiative (MCI), please feel free to contact Christopher Szot, PhD, at BRGSupport@nih.gov.