Researching a potential new treatment to save children’s lives

Professor Greg Goodall is a Cancer Council SA funded researcher from University of South Australia, and he is investigating a new treatment for a devastating type of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma which has the potential to change the lives of families impacted by this terrible disease.

What is neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops in children from nerve tissue that is found above the kidneys, around the chest, abdomen and adrenal glands.

It claims the lives of more children under five than any other cancer. The worst of these cancers grow very aggressively and have a cure rate of just 50 per cent. These cases are referred to as ‘high-risk’ neuroblastoma and the outcomes can be devastating.

Why is Professor Goodall’s research important?

This research aims to understand why some children develop high risk neuroblastoma over others and perfect treatment options to suit.

“We hope to learn more about neuroblastoma tumours through a process called ‘high-throughput RNA-sequencing’. By better understanding what makes up the tumours, we can better understand how to treat them early and effectively,” Prof. Goodall says.

“It will mean more personalised treatment with fewer long term side effects for children diagnosed with this invasive form of cancer.”

“The funding from Cancer Council SA comes at a crucial time for our neuroblastoma research program, allowing us develop findings that will underpin the future of neuroblastoma research.”

Learn more about Cancer Council SA’s research program.