Genetic and Molecular Basis of Pediatric Liver Cancer
University of Pittsburgh
Summary
The purpose of this retrospective and prospective project is to understand the molecular and genetic basis of liver cancer of childhood. Understanding the molecular and genetic bases of liver cancers can offer a better classification based on tumor biology, mechanisms and predisposition.
Description
Pediatric liver cancers are rare, affecting at times no more than 1 in one million population. Understanding the molecular basis of these cancers is important in order to develop more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments. Current classifications of these cancers are based on how these cancers look on diagnostic studies such as radiologic imaging or under the microscope. Such a classification system does not explain why a particular cancer has a different outcome from what is considered "usual" for that particular cancer. Nor does such a classification system explain why two differe…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 0–99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Prior or current treatment for a childhood liver tumor, malignant or benign, at age \<21 years. * Biological parents and siblings of eligible children. Exclusion Criteria: * No prior or current treatment for a childhood liver tumor. * Non-biological parents, legal guardians, or non-biological siblings of eligible children.
Location
- UPMC Children's Hospital of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania