109th Congress

Conquer Childhood Cancer Act

H.R. 4927/S. 2375/S. 2393

Background

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Representative Deborah Pryce (R-OH), whose adopted daughter, Caroline Pryce Walker, died of neuroblastoma, introduced this legislation to authorize funds to raise awareness about childhood cancer and support children who are suffering from this disease and their families.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under 15 years of age. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) funds a large portfolio that examines the causes of and most effective treatments for childhood cancer. Ongoing activities include studies to identify the causes of cancers that develop in children, monitoring of U.S. and international trends in incidence and mortality rates for childhood cancers, studies to better understand the biology of childhood cancer, projects designed to improve the health status of survivors of childhood cancers, clinical trials to identify superior treatments for childhood cancers, and evaluations of new drugs that may be more effective against childhood cancers and that may have less toxicity for children. NCI also maintains the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database, which provides the most comprehensive population-based registry data for cancers occurring in 10 percent of the U.S. population, including cancers defined by histology or characterized by major anatomical location and specified by age group.

NCI’s Web site contains a dedicated portal where information about childhood cancers can be found (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/
types/childhoodcancers). The portal provides access to information about pediatric cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, published literature, statistics, supportive care, and research. NCI also maintains a comprehensive cancer database, Physician Data Query, which contains peer-reviewed summaries of cancer treatment, screening, prevention, genetics, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine; a worldwide registry of approximately 2,600 open and 14,000 closed cancer clinical trials; and directories of physicians, professionals who provide genetics services, and organizations that provide cancer care.

NCI supports training programs such as the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award; National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award; NCI Cancer Prevention, Control, Behavioral and Population Sciences Career Development Award; and NCI Cancer Education Program. NCI intramural research fellowship programs can also accommodate special interests in pediatrics.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

The legislation would amend the Public Health Service Act to 1) require the establishment of Special Programs of Research Excellence in Pediatric Cancers, 2) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with NCI-supported pediatric cancer clinical trial groups, to establish Research Fellowships in Pediatric Cancer, 3) require the Director of NIH to award a grant for the operation of a population-based national childhood cancer database and the Childhood Cancer Research Network, and 4) require the Secretary of HHS to award grants to recognized childhood cancer professional and advocacy organizations.

The legislation would authorize the appropriation of $20 million for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 4927 was introduced by Representative Pryce on March 9, 2006, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

S. 2375 was introduced by Senator Coleman on March 7, 2006, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

S. 2393 was introduced by Senator Coleman on March 9, 2006, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. (The only difference between S. 2375 and S. 2393 is that S. 2375 has no cosponsors.) No further action has occurred on this legislation.