Childhood Cancer Research Highlights

The 91��ϲ�� (ACS) is deeply committed to finding new answers that will help every child and family affected by cancer. Here are lay-friendly highlights about some of our recent studies.

Childhood Cancer Continues to Increase

Cancer is the?second most common cause of death?among children?ages 1 to 14. Accidents are the most common cause. The cancer incidence rate for children has been increasing slightly since the mid-1970s, with the trends varying by cancer type. However, cancer death rates in children have declined 71% since 1970. These reductions are largely due to improvements in treatment and more children taking part in clinical trials.

New Treatment for Children with Neuroblastoma

A clear "win" from a phase 1 clinical trial of a new treatment for children who have already been heavily treated for neuroblastoma.

Learn about it

Black child with white headwrap and white bear

Statistics on Childhood Cancer in Children (Birth to Age 14)

Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer.?

Brain or other tumors in the nervous system are the second-most common cancer in children.

Risk & Prevention Studies

Researchers�� evaluation of data from 5,000+ children with cancer may open new avenues for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of AML.

A large study of childhood cancer long-term survivors found new variants of cancer-susceptibility genes that could inform and improve genetic counseling.

Statistics on Childhood Cancer in Children (Ages 15-19)

Brain or other tumors in the nervous system are the most common cancer in adolescents.

Lymphoma is in the second-most common cancer in adolescents.

Treatment & Reducing Metastasis Studies

Research in the lab and in mice finds drugs aimed at a new molecular target may reduce the risk of relapse of certain deadly brain cancers in children.

Survivorship Studies

Study shows childhood cancer survivors can likely expect to have a longer life expectancy due to improvements in treatment over a 30-year period.

We Fund Cancer Researchers Across the US

The ACS funds scientists who conduct research about childhood cancer at medical schools, universities, research institutes, and hospitals throughout the United States. We use a rigorous and independent?peer review process?to select the most innovative research projects proposals to fund.?

These grant statistics are as of February 20, 2025.

childhood cancer research grants

$51M

funding for childhood cancer research

See More Research Funding Statistics

91��ϲ��

Patient Programs

Patient Programs

Research We Conduct

Research Tools

Research We Conduct

Research Tools

Patient Programs

Patient Programs

Research We Conduct

Research Tools

Research We Conduct

Research Tools

Contact Us