New Discoveries and Honors in Cancer Research

Peter D. Cole, MD (Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award Committee, Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator ‘03-‘08) of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, and colleagues, reported that common variations in four genes related to brain inflammation or cells’ response to damage from oxidation may contribute to the problems with memory, learning and other cognitive functions seen in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The findings suggest it may be possible to screen ALL patients for their risk of long-term treatment-related effects on memory, attention and learning and studying potential interventions. These results were presented at the 56th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.